Patient's question:
When the doctor diagnosed it as infantile spasms, he is already 12 years old this year and still cannot speak or walk, and he cannot even take care of himself in daily life. I am a bit anxious, will it affect the child's whole life? Please ask how to treat it.Doctor's answer:
Infantile spasms, in fact, are a special type of epilepsy that occurs during infancy. This condition is most common in infants aged 3 to 7 months, and its causes may be related to factors such as birth injuries, neonatal asphyxia, viral encephalitis, intrauterine infections, congenital toxoplasmosis, congenital brain developmental malformations, and certain metabolic disorders. Besides causing generalized muscle spasms, infantile spasms can also lead to intellectual disabilities in children. Once diagnosed, immediate treatment should be initiated, as the earlier treatment begins, the less severe the brain damage in the child may be. Over 90% of affected children experience stagnation or regression in intellectual and motor development after onset. Antiepileptic treatment generally requires long-term medication for 2 to 4 years, and the side effects of Western medicine may exacerbate the impact on the child's intellectual development. It is still necessary to cooperate with the doctor for long-term treatment to achieve significant improvement and relief of symptoms.