Patient's question:
BR>Years for treatmentDoctor's answer:
Hello: Infantile spasms are most common in infants aged 3 to 7 months, and their causes may be related to birth injuries, neonatal asphyxia, viral encephalitis, intrauterine infections, congenital toxoplasmosis, congenital brain developmental malformations, and certain metabolic diseases.Infantile spasms are actually a special type of epilepsy in infancy. In addition to generalized convulsions, what makes them more severe is that they can also cause intellectual disabilities in children. So, how can parents detect if their child might have this condition? After the child reaches 3 months of age, if they exhibit nodding and bending-like spasms, this could be a sign of infantile spasms.
Once this condition is diagnosed, treatment should be started immediately. The earlier the treatment begins, the less severe the brain damage in the child may be. Currently, the main medications used to treat infantile spasms are nitrazepam and hormones. If both are used together, the therapeutic effect is better. During the medication process, it is essential to give the child the medication regularly to maintain the necessary effective blood concentration.
To prevent the recurrence of infantile spasms and their transformation into grand mal seizures or psychomotor seizures, even after the recurrence has completely stopped, the medication dosage should not be reduced but should continue for 2 to 4 years. Then, under the guidance of a doctor, the medication should be gradually and cautiously reduced until it is stopped.
Additionally, parents should pay special attention to the fact that when the child starts taking medication, they should visit the hospital for follow-up every 2 to 3 weeks. Afterward, follow-up checks should be conducted every 3 to 6 months. At the same time, the toxicity of the medication should be closely monitored, and regular medical examinations should be performed to check liver and kidney function and blood counts. If any abnormalities are detected, further measures should be taken promptly.