West syndrome treatment and diagnostics abroad

West syndrome (infantile spasms) is a severe form of epilepsy in children in their first year of life. It needs urgent treatment: the sooner the seizures are stopped, the better the chances of the child's normal development.

Below are clinics abroad with pediatric epilepsy centres: compare their capabilities, doctors and prices.

How West syndrome shows

• clusters of brief spasms — sudden bending of the body, head nodding, flinging the arms out or in, often after waking;
• delay or loss of skills already learned — the baby stops smiling or following with the eyes;
• a typical EEG pattern — hypsarrhythmia.

The condition usually starts between 3 and 12 months of age. Spasms are often mistaken for colic or reflexes — if you suspect them, take a video and see a neurologist without delay.

Causes

West syndrome can result from brain injury before or during birth, brain malformations, tuberous sclerosis, genetic and metabolic disorders; in some cases no cause is found.

Diagnosis

• EEG — ideally video-EEG including sleep;
• brain MRI — to look for a structural cause;
• genetic and metabolic testing;
• eye and skin examination — for signs of tuberous sclerosis.

Treatment

• Hormonal therapy (ACTH or corticosteroids) and vigabatrin — the first line; vigabatrin is especially effective in tuberous sclerosis.
• Other antiseizure medicines and the ketogenic diet — if first-line treatment fails.
• Epilepsy surgery — when the cause is a localized brain lesion.
• Early rehabilitation — therapy to support motor and speech development.

See clinics in the neurology and pediatric neurosurgery sections; general information is on the epilepsy page.

Send a request with EEG and MRI reports — Clinics Direct coordinators will urgently help arrange a pediatric epileptologist's consultation abroad.