The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline which outlines the best treatments for infantile spasms - a rare type of seizures that occurs in infants and children.
![Updated Guideline for Treating Rare Seizure Disorder in Babies, Young Children Updated Guideline for Treating Rare Seizure Disorder in Babies, Young Children](https://www.medindia.net/afp/images/Health-epilepsy-biotech-genes-66845.jpg)
The guideline found that the hormone therapy adrenocorticotropic hormone, also known as ACTH, may be effective for treatment of infantile spasms. The seizure drug vigabatrin may also be considered for treatment, although evidence suggests ACTH may be more effective than vigabatrin. For children with seizures caused by the genetic disorder tuberous sclerosis complex, however, vigabatrin may be more effective.
The guideline, which is based on a review of all available evidence on treatment for infantile spasms and is an update of a guideline published in 2004, also found that low-dose ACTH is probably as effective as high-dose ACTH and it may lower the risk of side effects.
There is not enough evidence to know whether other treatments, alone or combined, are effective in treating infantile spasms, according to the guideline.
The guideline recommends that early diagnosis and early treatment may lead to better long-term outcomes for children''s development and learning skills.
"It is important for parents to talk to their child''s doctor if they suspect their child may be having seizures or spasms because early diagnosis and treatment may help in the long term with educational and learning skills," said guideline author Cristina Go, MD, of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
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Source-Newswise