Question
What are the reasons for a newborn’s head nodding and bending movements? Could these symptoms be a sign of infantile spasms? How is infantile spasms diagnosed?
Answer
Infantile Spasms (IS) is a severe neurological disorder characterized by sudden, symmetrical nodding and bending movements. During interictal periods, the child may appear normal, but abnormal bilateral peak frequency disorganization will be shown on an electroencephalogram (EEG). The diagnosis of infantile spasms typically relies on medical history, clinical examination, and EEG results. Before onset, the child usually has normal growth and development as well as neurological examination, but abnormal EEG findings are present. After onset, regional abnormalities may appear on the EEG, and the abnormal pattern can recover between consecutive spasms. For infants with symptoms of infantile spasms, there may be abnormal findings in neurological examination or imaging before onset.