Patient's question:
Director Tian, hello: I am the parent of the child who asked about infantile spasms yesterday. Based on the knowledge I have currently gathered, my daughter's condition appears to be quite severe, and as a parent, I am very anxious to find an ideal treatment plan for her. Could you please tell me the common clinical treatments currently available? How are the dosage calculations for Western medicine medications? What are the various treatment methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)? Is it possible to combine Western and Chinese medicine treatments? Is there a necessary connection between cerebral palsy and infantile spasms? Does medication during treatment have any impact on the child's brain development? Now, the doctor who reviewed the CT scans has said that the child has poor brain development. Could this situation improve if treatment is timely and ongoing over time? Lastly, could you please tell me which hospital is currently treating infantile spasms?Doctor's answer:
The current standard treatment involves oral administration of Keppra-like drugs to control the condition. The dosage is gradually increased based on the control achieved, meaning that if the existing dosage fails to fully control the condition, it must be gradually increased until complete control without recurrence is achieved. After continuous medication for 2-4 years and no recurrence for over a year, the dosage may be gradually reduced depending on the situation. Therefore, the dosage needs to be adjusted by the doctor according to the patient's condition at any time.Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comprehensive treatment primarily focuses on the series of cerebral palsy symptoms caused by infantile spasms. Since most children with this condition suffer from organic brain damage and severe intellectual impairments, treatment is challenging, and the prognosis is poor. It is easy for cerebral palsy symptoms (such as intellectual disabilities, motor disorders, and language impairments) to be left unresolved, so early treatment is necessary.
Additionally, drugs for treating developmental brain issues have a stimulating effect on the nervous system, while antiepileptic drugs must control neural excitability. Therefore, there is currently no way to treat developmental brain issues with oral medications. This is also a reason or cause for choosing TCM treatment.
For the treatment of infantile spasms, there is no special method available at present; only oral Keppra-like drugs are used. Treatment can be administered locally. If TCM comprehensive rehabilitation therapy is needed, it is best to seek treatment at a professional hospital. If you wish to come to Beijing for treatment, the Children's Hospital, the Research Institute for Children, and the Peking Union Medical College Hospital are all excellent comprehensive hospitals. However, due to the large number of patients, it is important to take precautions against cross-infection.
The key to treating brain diseases lies in early detection, early treatment, and early rehabilitation. Therefore, it is essential to act promptly.
We hope the child can recover as soon as possible.