What Are The Major Types Of Seizures?

Infantile Spasms

Infantile spasms are actually a disorder that occurs in infants involving multiple brief seizures. Infantile spasms look similar to when an infant becomes startled where the legs and arms become stiffened, and the head bends forward. Infantile spasms have a sudden onset and only last for several seconds. Some infants may experience these spasms in clusters with a duration of several minutes. Abnormal blood vessels in the infant's brain, infections, malformations in the infant's brain, and brain injuries can all produce infantile spasms. Vitamin B6 deficiency, genetic disorders, and certain metabolic disorders can also cause an individual to experience infantile spasms. Infantile spasms are known to be accompanied by slowed development or skill loss, such as crawling, babbling, and sitting. Most infants affected by infantile spasms will grow out of them by the time they reach four years old. Infantile spasms are diagnosed with the use of blood tests, urine tests, electroencephalography, video EEG, CAT scans, MRIs, and PET scans.