Diagnosis
• Infantile spasms can have a profoundly negative influence on a child’s development. Early recognition, diagnostic evaluation, and medical intervention are essential to minimize, or even reverse, the devastating impact of the seizures.
• On EEG between events, there is a very characteristic brain wave patterns called hypsarrhythmia, which consists of much larger and disorganized brain activity with scattered spikes. During infantile spasms, there is a sudden flattening of the EEG called an electrodecremental response.
• There are numerous possible causes of IS, and an extensive imaging and laboratory evaluation is frequently necessary to identify a cause. If the underlying cause can be identified, then at times, treatment can be targeted towards reversing this abnormality, and may result in a better outcome.
- In seventy percent of cases a cause is identifiable. These cases are called symptomatic. (See causes below.)
- Cases where no cause is identified are called cryptogenic.
- A good physical exam including the skin is very important. Some causes like Tuberous Sclerosis and Neurofibromatosis can be identified by hallmark signs on the skin.