What Is an Infantile Spasm

Infantile spasms is a seizure disorder in babies. The seizures (or spasms) make muscles in the arms and legs stiff and bend the baby’s head forward. They look very much like a startle.

How do I know if my baby has infantile spasms?

Infantile spasms often look like a sudden, brief stiffening of a baby’s muscles. Symptoms may include: a cluster of spasms that may be associated with waking from sleep. jackknife seizures, where the body bends forward, the knees are pulled up, and the arms are thrown out to the side.

What is the difference between infantile spasms and seizures?

An infantile spasm is a seizure with sudden stiffening of the body and brief bending forward or backward of the arms, legs and head. Each seizure lasts only a second or two and usually in a series. Seizures are most common just after waking up and rarely occur during sleep.