children s health issues
Infantile Spasms
Treatment of Infantile Spasms
Adrenocorticotropic hormone A corticosteroid Vigabatrin Because early control of infantile spasms is associated with a better developmental outcome, early identification and treatment of spasms are essential. Children are prescribed one of the following three medications. Adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) can be injected into a muscle once a day. ACTH therapy is typically continued for 2 weeks and then tapered off over several weeks. Acorticosteroid(such asprednisone), given by mouth, may also be effective as an alternative to ACTH. Vigabatrinis an antiseizure medication given by mouth. It is the medication of choice when tuberous sclerosis complex is the cause of the spasms. There is not enough evidence to support that any other antiseizure medication or a ketogenic diet is effective. Sometimes Surgery is done to eliminate the cause of the spasms. An area of the brain may be surgically removed if seizures are caused by only that one area and that area can be removed without significantly affecting the child's ability to function. 