children s health issues
Infantile Spasms
Diagnosis of Infantile Spasms
Electroencephalography Magnetic resonance imaging Sometimes blood and urine tests and a spinal tap Doctors diagnose infantile spasms based on symptoms and results of Electroencephalography , which is done to check for specific patterns of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. EEG is done while children are sleeping and while they are awake. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain is done to look for signs of brain damage or malformations. Other tests are done to look for the cause: Samples of blood, urine, and the fluid around the spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) may be analyzed to check for disorders that may be causing the spasms, such as metabolic disorders. Cerebrospinal fluid is obtained by doing a Spinal Tap (lumbar puncture). If the cause of infantile spasms is still unclear, genetic tests may be done. 