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West syndrome

What are the symptoms?

The hallmark of West syndrome is the occurrence of a particular type of epileptic seizure called a spasm. Spasms typically produce a sudden jerk of the body followed by stiffening of the limbs. Different types of spasms may occur but most typically a child will suddenly bend forward with elevation of the arms or legs. These attacks usually occur in runs or clusters when one spasm occurs after another for a period of several minutes. These episodes may occur several times per day. Very commonly, when a child starts to have spasms there is change in their behaviour and they appear to switch off and lose interest in their surroundings.

View Background Background  |  What are the causes? View What are the causes?

Medical text written November 2002 by Dr J Livingston, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.

 

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