TYK232
A 5 month-old child presents with concern for seizure-like activity. She is arching her back and extending her right arm repeatedly. The EEG shows a recurring pattern of hypsarrhythmia. The most likely diagnosis is:
a) Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
b) Simple febrile Seizures
c) Infantile Spasm
d) Status epilepticus
e) Generalized tonic-clonic seizure
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Answer
Answer c. Compared to other seizures (particularly generalized seizures), infantile spasms appear very benign in nature and may be mistaken for evidence of gastroesophageal reflux in some infants. However, infantile spasms carry a grim prognosis of significant neurocognitive delays and abnormal motor development. The usual onset is between 2 and 7 months of age.
Notes
- This question originally printed in the Pediatric Anesthesiology Review Topics kindle book series, and appears courtesy of Naerthwyn Press, LLC.