Atonic seizure in infants
Common Questions and Answers about Atonic seizure in infants
seizure
The recent episode that you have described could well be an atonic seizure. In an atonic seizure, all the body muscles lose their tone. Had your son been older and sitting or standing, he would have fallen on the spot. The neck muscles lost tone. But the eyes were turned to left as this is a normal "doll's eye" reflex.
You should convey this information to the pediatrician.
Atonic seizures may continue for a few years. You will have to watch for further episodes.
absence seizures only last about 10-30 seconds. They are a form of generalized seizure. They are in the same catagory as atonic, tonic, myoclonic and they are real seizures. Short duration, not always eye movement....But they are a real thing! I am not saying t hat either of these sweeet babies have epilepsy, obviously, I DO NOT KNOW!! I am just passing this info on so that you will know that not all seizures are the clonic tonic kind that most people identify as epilepsy!
Hi, and welcome to the forum! Your episodes are VERY concerning and need to be worked up immediately and until an answer is found! This kind of falling may be fatal if it happens in the wrong place. Are you still driving?
The first thing that I think of when I read you description is some kind a "atonic" seizure or drop attack. Atonic means without muscle tone. You need to see a neurologist immediately and get an MRI of your head and an EEG.
There is a possibility of a partial seizure. But you should also consider something called as eye tics. These are not so uncommon in infants.
You may need to get an EEG done. A video EEG is preferred. It has the advantage of letting us see the brain waves during such an episode or up rolling of eyes.
Did he have any significant birth complications?
Recently he had an attack where he grabbed his head due to severe pain and collapsed, started having what we thought to be seizure like activity. Doctor said his eyes were not reacting, they intubated him and flew him to another hospital thinking possible aneurism. While in the hospital he was fine although very sedated from pain medication they were giving him. My mom and I have noticed that since that hospitalization, his eyes don't quite look right.
ACTH therapy is given for seizures in infants (infantile seizures) not controlled by usual seizure control medications. Usually these infants suffer from epilepsy related syndromes such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Landau-Kleffner syndrome. Mild variants of such seizures may improve with ACTH. In severe cases there is not much hope. I am sorry, but please continue your follow up at NIMHANS. Take care!
After a month, she got 2 episodes in 3 days gap. Doctors suggested to give Levipil 100ml syrup 1ml in morning and 1 ml in evening. She is not having further seizures in last 2 months now. Is it the correct medication? How much time we need to continue this medication? Any known side effects of Levipil for infants?
1 hour after I got home he had a Tonic Clonic seizure and turned blue. I called 911. They look him to Children Hospital in St. Paul. They put him the Epilepsy Unit and did an EEG. They found 5 other Myclonic seizures in his sleep. MRI looked fine and all blood tests came back fine. They diagnosed him with Generalized Infant Benign Epilepsy. They put him on Keppra. So far I have only witnessed 2 little jerks, I guess they are Myoclonic seizures.
You really need your pediatric neurologist to evaluate your baby for the type of seizure. My newborn had seizures during his first week and is on seizure control meds (phenobarbitol) to control it. Seizures were different, however. Try not to worry, you probably need medications to control them. They might want to do an MRI and CT scan to verify any brain damage...
Fainting comes close to being absence or atonic seizures. These are usually seen in younger children. Her age is a bit unusual for these.
During a seizure, there may be a head injury, tongue bite or urinary incontinence. Did she have some of these?
I do not think the diagnosis should entirely depend on the EEG. The clinical features are important.
Have all the fainting episodes occurred in school?
I am interested in the prognosis of other infants or young children that have survived an aneurysm through surgery. Any history or information you could share would be appreciated.
He was admitted in hospital due to fever where aneurysm may have potentially ruptured,seized for 3 hours, lot of blood in his brain, went through coiling surgery, had 2 angioplasty to control cerebral vasospasm.
The normal electroencephalogram (EEG) does not necessarily rule out seizures. In many cases of atonic seizures (seizures with sudden loss of muscle tone, similar to a sudden paralysis), the inter-ictal (between episodes) EEG in normal. He should actually be screened by three EEGs, done one month apart.
Is he good in studies? How about his development? Were there any birth injuries?
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