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 what the common clinical treatments are? 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? The doctor who reviewed the CT scans said that the child has poor brain development. Could this situation improve with timely treatment over time? Lastly, which hospital is currently treating infantile spasms?Doctor's answer:
The current standard treatment involves oral administration of Keppra-like drugs for control. The dosage is gradually increased based on the control situation, meaning that if the existing dosage fails to fully control the condition, it must be slowly increased until complete control without recurrence is achieved. After continuously taking the medication for 2-4 years and remaining recurrence-free for over a year, the dosage may be gradually reduced depending on the individual's condition. Therefore, the dosage needs to be adjusted by the doctor according to the patient's circumstances.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 persist, so early treatment is necessary.
Additionally, drugs for treating developmental brain disorders 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 disorders with oral medication. This is also a factor 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 Institute of Child Health, and the Beijing Bao'ai 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 disorders lies in early detection, early treatment, and early rehabilitation. Therefore, it is crucial to act promptly.
We hope the child can recover as soon as possible.