Question
My son, who was diagnosed with infantile spasms at 6 months and has been on medication (topiramate and levetiracetam) since 1 year and 6 months, has recently experienced a recurrence. He is now 2 years old. He wakes up every night with expressions that seem to indicate fear and gasping for breath. This happens once a night, but not during the day.
Answer
Currently, the treatment for infantile spasms primarily involves a combination of hormone therapy and clonazepam (clonidine), which has been effective in controlling or alleviating recurrences and restoring normal brain wave patterns. Guidance: To prevent recurrences of infantile spasms, even after successful treatment and control of recurrences, it is essential to continue taking medication under the guidance of a doctor. Generally, medication should be taken continuously for 2-4 years before gradually reducing and stopping the medication. During this period, parents should regularly take their child for check-ups, starting every 2 weeks and then once a month or every 3-6 months as needed, to adjust the medication dosage and monitor for adverse reactions.