Do Infantile Spasms Get Worse?

A new study found that nearly half of babies who suffer from infantile spasms are not accurately diagnosed for more than a month and this delay can increase the risk of intellectual disability, autism, lifelong epilepsy, and death.

Do babies with infantile spasms develop normally?

Benign infantile myoclonus does not need treatment and infants with this condition will develop normally with no increased risk of epilepsy or learning difficulty. It is important therefore to have an EEG before starting treatment for infantile spasms. No one wants to start treatment in an infant when it is not needed.

Can a baby with infantile spasms live a normal life?

An etiologic diagnosis is very important because it can lead to initiation of a specific therapy that may markedly improve the long-term developmental outcome. In fact, some children with infantile spasms may ultimately lead normal lives, but only if they are diagnosed and treated correctly.