Infantile Spasms

Infantile spasms, also known as West Syndrome, is a particularly severe form of epilepsy that can lead to poor development with spasms that typically begin between the ages of 3-12 months and usually stop by the age of 2-4 years. The spasms appear as a sudden jerk or jolt followed by stiffening. Often the child's arms fling outward and the knees pull up as the body bends forward. Each seizure lasts only a second or two but they recur close together in a series. Sometimes the spasms are mistaken for colic, but colic cramps do not typically occur as a part of a series. The child is most likely to have the spasms just after waking up, but they can also occur, though rarely, during sleep. Treatment for infantile spasms usually includes steroid therapy, certain anticonvulsant medications or a ketogenic diet.