Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Detecting seizures in 1 month old.

Our son was born 1-22-08 after full term normal pregnancy to my 38 year old wife. Natural child birth after 2-4 hour labor, no epideural. He was 7lbs 10oz 19 1/2 inches.

We began noticing rapid jerking/twitching a week to 2 weeks after coming home. Jerking was entirely confined to legs, feet, hands, and arms and occurred with all variations of the same e.g single foot, single leg, both legs etc.. Jerks have not been noticed in face, shoulders, or trunk.
Jerks are only noticed during early sleep, not awake and usually while we are holding him after a bottle feed. Somedays there would be 50 or so in a minute (all twitches were very electric in nature and were instantly on-off /fractions of a second long). and other days hardly any were seen.

I took short videos of jerking and went to pediatrician who obtained an EEG appointment with neurlogist. Test went well and he even slept for the test-but of course did not twitch or jerk. The EEG report was of a discharge in the occipital lobe but so far has not been correlated with the twitching.

We elected to observe for 2 weeks until a follow up appointment and were relieved to notice that almost all of the twitching has ceased-still very occasionally will show up. Neurologist scheduled a 2 month follow up with no meds and simply advised us to call if anything changed for the worse. He is head of neurology in Orlando hospital, and let us know that our son seemed very OK and that there would not be any diagnosis until an EEG or other test correlated definately with a behaviour, or unless our observations included obvious signs of seizure/epilepsy.

Now my question: Yesterday (2-25-08) I was watching my son as he awoke from an afternoon nap (he was napping on a slightly inclined changing pad) that he seemed happy and engaged (he smiled and made noises), then while he was smiling his eyelids closed a bit and his head drifted to the right while his eyes slid to the left. I thought he was just tracking me and smiling but I noticed that he did not seem to be tracking as I moved my face back and forth over him. I then picked up one of his arms and let it fall and noticed no tone or reaction as it fell. I did this several times with the same result and then began calling his name and snapping my fingers - no effect. When I stopped he then sort of self-startled and his eyes opened and focused and he began typical baby movements. This episode lasted about 15-30 seconds.

I know I've been spooked by the EEG and the twitching but I'm beginning to wonder if the above is indicative of any type of seizure? He's not able to hold his head up or sit yet so it's difficult to determine if he's just sleepy, or if something else is going on. He does all other baby behaviours fine and even seems a bit advanced in the motor skills area (he is able to go from back to side, and to hold his head up for long periods while on his tummy).

Does the above suggest anything? His behaviours seem to fall outside the usual both in type and for his age than anything else I've been able to find on-line.

Thanks for any reply.
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hello!
  I am sure that this is not the type of reply that you were wanting when you wrote your story.  I am a mother of 2 wonderful children, a daughter (4years) and a son (6 months today).  I noticed sunday of last week, when I was holding him and feeding him a bottle he started drifting off to sleep, and began to shake.  It only lasted about 5 seconds, and when he stopped he began to cry...It did scare me so very much.  Honestly, I kinda forgot about it...meaning I didn't think too much about it because he was his normal self afterwards.  Then,  4 days later same senerio... only this time it lasted about 10 seconds...  I called the doctor, and he pretty much said to keep an eye on him, and next time if/when it happens take him directly to the ER.   Well, after reading your story about your baby I became more concerned.  I have not seen any other signs, just when he is dozing off....and only twice.  My son is in no way as severe as yours, and i am praying for your baby as well as mine...  I am just wondering if my story sounds like how yours started?  I would love if you could give me any kind of pointers on how to handle this.  My husband works constantly, and I am the only person besides my 4yr old to witness this.  Am I overreacting or is what we are expeirencing a type of seizure?  please respond....ruthy.***@****
Helpful - 0
368886 tn?1466235284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello.

The initial episodes may have been myoclonic jerks. The EEG generally picks up the activity during jerks.

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. An EEG should be done again after a few weeks.

Regards
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community

Top Neurology Answerers
620923 tn?1452915648
Allentown, PA
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease