How can you tell the twitching from epilepsy? | Baby twitching

How can you tell the twitching from epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a type of seizure in which the affected muscles become uncontrollably tense and twitch at high frequency. Furthermore, epileptic seizures are usually single episodes that last for several minutes. Simple twitches occur repeatedly and have a much lower frequency than a seizure. However, since there is not one form of epilepsy, epilepsy cannot be excluded in principle. A medical diagnosis and possibly an EEG, in which brain waves are measured, are necessary for an exact diagnosis.

When should one go to the pediatrician?

Individual muscle twitches are not necessarily presented to the pediatrician, but there are some warning signs that require a visit to the doctor. If the twitching occurs repeatedly or on certain occasions, such as stress, a pediatrician and possibly a neurologist should perform further examinations. A pediatrician should also be consulted if the children’s nature changes or they become inattentive during the twitching.

TreatmentTherapy

Treatment of convulsions in the baby is only necessary if the baby has epilepsy. Otherwise, it is necessary to wait and act symptomatically. This means, for example, that in the case of the causal Moro reflex you can puke the baby so that he or she is not frightened by their own moving arms.

At this point it should be mentioned that puking, i.e. wrapping the baby tightly in a cloth, is controversial as a therapeutic measure. Relaxation exercises can be helpful for muscle twitches that are accompanied by a tossing of the head back and forth while sleeping. If it is an epileptic disorder, appropriate treatment must be initiated depending on the type of epilepsy. This consists of a drug therapy with so-called “anticonvulsants”, i.e. drugs to prevent seizures.

Duration Prognosis

Depending on the cause of the twitching, its duration varies. If it is the typical Moro reflex, the twitching lasts only a few seconds. The Moro reflex itself is physiologically only pronounced in babies from birth to the 4th month of life.

In addition, it is noticeable when a baby still has this reflex and requires further clarification. In the case of epilepsy, the twitching can last longer, sometimes for minutes, and occur in regular series of seizures. If an epileptic disorder is the reason for the twitching, the prognosis may be unfavorable.

Epilepsies that manifest themselves in early childhood are often accompanied by high mortality in the first years of childhood. It is therefore important to clarify atypical twitching that cannot be explained by a normal Moro reflex or other harmless reasons.