Infantile spasms is a rare but serious type of epilepsy. It's associated with a unique, very abnormal brain wave pattern that can cause serious harm to a young, developing brain. This seizure type can happen during the first 2 years of life, most commonly between 5–7 months of age.
Babies with the condition also might have slowed development or loss of skills (like babbling, sitting, or crawling). The spasms can be very hard to control, and many children go on to have other kinds of seizures later in life.
The term West syndrome is used when a baby has infantile spasms, a unique EEG pattern (called hypsarrhythmia), and developmental delay.
Spasms start suddenly and last a second or two. They often come one after another in a cluster that lasts several minutes. They happen most often just after a child wakes up. They're often mistaken for startles, colic, reflux, or hiccupping.
A baby having a spasm might have:
Infantile spasms can be caused by problems with the way the brain developed in the womb, infections, brain injury, or abnormal blood vessels in the brain (such as an arteriovenous malformations). Infantile spasms also can happen in babies with some types of metabolic and genetic disorders. In rare cases, a baby's infantile spasms are caused by vitamin B6 deficiency.
More and more gene mutations are being linked to infantile spasms. Often, the cause isn't known.
Infantile spasms are diagnosed by a pediatric neurologist (a doctor who treats brain, spine and nervous system problems). Testing may include:
Infantile spasms usually are treated with seizure medicines or steroids. If medicines don't control the spasms, a special diet, such as the ketogenic diet, might help. Sometimes, doctors may recommend surgery.
Infantile spasms can lead to cognitive, neurologic, and/or sensory problems. Most children with infantile spasms will have problems with their development, and may need help with daily tasks throughout their lives.
To help your child, follow the doctor's instructions to:
Your doctor and the care team can answer questions and offer support. They also might be able to recommend a local support group. Online organizations can help too, such as:
Reviewed by: Lily Tran, MD, Andrew I. Mower, MD
Date Reviewed: Feb 15, 2022
