About Infantile Spasms

Infantile Spasms, also known as West Syndrome, is a rare seizure disorder that affects infants. Usually, the onset takes place between the ages of 4 to 8 months. IS is characterized by rapid muscular contractions (spasms) in one or more limbs. Because of the unpredictable nature of when the spasms will occur, the condition can be difficult to diagnose. Other symptoms, such as decreased muscle tone and loss of alertness, may be present as well.

Take the Infantile Spasms Symptom Finder.

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U.S. may speed approval of "breakthrough" drugs (0 Comments)

Experimental drugs that show a big effect early in development for treating serious or life-threatening diseases would get a faster and cheaper path to U.S. approval, under a proposal likely to become law this year.

U.S. drug regulators would be able to label such treatments "breakthrough" therapies, and work with companies to speed up clinical trials, for example by testing the drugs for a shorter time or enrolling fewer patients.

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I just want to be a good dad (1 Comment)

By Sarah Foster

In the darkest days of his young son’s life, Josh Clark would sing to ease his pain.

Little Jayden could spasm and go stiff up to 30 times a day before he was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy. But his 22-year-old dad would pull out his guitar and use the sound of his voice to soothe him into sleep.

Now Josh is hoping to use his skills as a musician to raise awareness of West syndrome.

And he’s made it through to the next round of a competition which could set him on the path to fame and fortune.

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Making progress and smiling all the way (0 Comments)

Last year we brought you a story about a North Bend baby who underwent surgery which removed half of his brain.

Evan's family let KCBY tag along to one of his physical therapy appointments to see his progress.

Baby Evan was only three months old when he was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms.

Evan was a prime candidate for a surgery called Hemispherectomy, which removed the left hemisphere of his brain.

Nearly a year and a half post surgery, Evan takes advantage of the South Coast ESD programs, and physical therapy in the area.

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A program to pay hospitals bonuses for hitting key performance measures, or dock them if they miss, failed to improve the health outcomes of patients, according to a large, long-term study.

The study could lead to a re-examination of financial incentives in healthcare, as policymakers seek ways to reward results rather than paying doctors and other providers for each service they provide, such as a diagnostic test.

Such an incentive program for hospitals is a key provision of the U.S. healthcare overhaul law that is being challenged this week before the Supreme Court.

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Supreme Court divided over Obama healthcare law (2 Comments)

By Joan Biskupic and James Vicini

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared closely divided along ideological lines during tense arguments over President Barack Obama's healthcare law on Tuesday, with conservative justices vigorously questioning the Obama administration's lawyer on whether Congress had the power to require people to buy medical insurance.

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