Infantile spasms are a type of epilepsy which typically occur in the first year of life. This is a severe epilepsy syndrome seen in infants, which involves seizures that are like ‘jack-knife’ movements where the arms are flung out as the knees are pulled up the body bends forward. However, movements can also be more subtle and limited to the neck or other body parts. The seizures tend to occur in clusters, and are most common after waking up.
Most children with infantile spasms develop intellectual disabilities later in life and, even if the seizures stop, children may develop other kinds of epilepsy include the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
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