Question

What are the symptoms and impacts of cervical spasm?

Answer

Cervical spasm, also known as West syndrome, is a unique form of epilepsy found in infants, commonly occurring within the first few days to 30 months after birth. Symptoms include bowing spasms, nodding spasms, and lightning-like spasms. This type of spasm may lead to significant intellectual and physical developmental disabilities and may develop into other types of recurrent conditions. The characteristics of spasm attacks include short-term single attacks, with the whole body, especially the head and upper body, bending forward, frequent occurrences, attacks usually happening just before or after sleep, and accompanied by loss of consciousness, sweating, facial cyanosis, and fatigue with a tendency to sleep. EEG shows characteristic high-frequency rhythmic disorganization. In terms of treatment, hormonal therapy is effective, but over 90% of children will experience intellectual and motor developmental delays.