How to solve spasmodic problems

Patient's question:

A little over two months
She often curls her body up. Her neck leans forward. She holds her breath and strains. Bit by bit. If she is picked up or called out to, she stops. It has been going on for half a month. For the past half a month, she has been having diarrhea. I suspect it's something with her stomach. But the doctor suspects it's infantile spasms. The brain CT scan results are: slightly widened subarachnoid space in both frontal lobes. Mild expansion of the body of the left ventricle. First follow-up question: EEG is normal. Second follow-up question: EEG is normal.

Doctor's answer:

In daily practice, we often encounter parents of infants and young children with traumatic or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who bring in head CT or MRI scans from other hospitals for consultation. The scans show symmetrical widening of the subarachnoid space in the frontal lobe or frontal pole, leading to diagnoses such as subdural effusion, cerebral atrophy, or external hydrocephalus, causing the parents great worry and fear. When we ask about the child's condition, we often find only minor scalp injuries or no symptoms, and normal growth and development, making it clear that the condition is not caused by subdural effusion, cerebral atrophy, or hydrocephalus.
Therefore, we explain in detail to the parents the causes, prognosis, and other relevant information about "external hydrocephalus." Most parents then reassure themselves that it was a false alarm, thank us, and leave happily with their children.
Symmetrical widening of the subarachnoid space (extra-axial space) in the frontal or frontal pole during infancy can be a physiological phenomenon within a certain range. The normal range for the width of the subarachnoid space is as follows: the distance between the cerebral cortex surface and the inner table of the skull in the frontal region is 0–4 mm, and the width of the anterior part of the longitudinal fissure is 0–5 mm. Some studies suggest that the extra-axial space in infants and newborns is relatively wide and follows a pattern of small → large → small evolution. Newborns have no periventricular spaces or sulci visible, only a narrow longitudinal fissure. In infants aged 2–12 months, the extra-axial space (subarachnoid space) can be significantly widened, with the most pronounced widening occurring between 2–6 months. By around 2 years of age, most children have lost their periventricular spaces and sulci, leaving only a relatively narrow longitudinal fissure. Some authors believe that the significant widening of the extra-axial space is due to temporary disruptions in cerebrospinal fluid production and absorption during development.