Question
How should muscle spasms and clonic seizures in newborns be diagnosed and treated?
Answer
Infantile myoclonic epilepsy often develops before the age of 1, with normal development prior to the onset of the disease. Approximately half of the cases have a family history of epilepsy or febrile seizures. Symptoms include generalized or unilateral muscle clonic spasms and partial seizures, often accompanied by consciousness impairment. After the age of 2, complications such as delayed mental and motor development, language disorders, and ataxia may occur. EEG can show spike-and-wave complexes and multifocal spikes, with a sensitivity to light stimulation. Currently, there is no effective treatment method, and the prognosis is poor.