Search
Infantile Spasms (West Syndrome):
- Are brief contractions of the neck, trunk, arm, and leg muscles that last 2-10 seconds
- Are NOT seizures, but 86% of children with infantile spasms go on to develop a seizure disorder before 1 year of age
- Usually occur as the child is going to sleep or waking up
- Most commonly seen between 3 and 8 months of age
- Often mistakenly diagnosed as colic
- Poor prognosis as infantile spasms usually indicate an underlying genetic, metabolic, or developmental abnormality
References
Nelson's Essentials of Pediatrics, 5th Edition.