Spasmus NutansSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Spasmus Nutans
Spasmus nutans is a disorder affecting infants and young children. It involves rapid, uncontrolled eye movements, head bobbing, and sometimes, holding the neck in an abnormal position.
Most cases of spasmus nutans begin between age 6 months and 1 year. It usually lasts about 2 years but can go on as long as 5 years.
The cause is unknown, although it may be associated with other medical conditions. A link with iron or vitamin D deficiency has been suggested. In very rare cases, symptoms similar to spasmus nutans may be due to certain types of brain tumors or other serious conditions.
Symptoms of spasmus nutans include:
- Small, quick, side-to-side eye movements called nystagmus (both eyes are involved, but each eye may move differently)
- Head nodding
- Head tilting
Spasmus nutans that isn't related to another medical problem, such as brain tumor, requires no treatment. If the symptoms are caused by another condition, your provider will recommend appropriate treatment.
Montefiore Medical Center
The maturation of GABAA receptor-mediated signaling from depolarizing to inhibitory is an age-related process controlled by cation chloride cotransporters, such as KCC2. As a result, GABA exerts dual functions, being an important neurotrophic factor during early development and the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mature central nervous system. In our laboratory we have been investigating the age and mechanisms through which early life stressors and seizures may disrupt the normal patterns of brain development, by disrupting the neurotrophic effects of GABA. We are also studying methods to reverse these adverse processes. Furthermore, we are very interested in understanding how epileptogenesis proceeds in the developing brain and what is the specific role of GABAA receptors in this process. Dr. Galanopoulou is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmus Nutans. She is also highly rated in 9 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses West Syndrome, Spasmus Nutans, Post-Traumatic Epilepsy, and Epilepsy.
The Children's Hospital At Montefiore
Solomon L. Moshé, MD, is Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of the Isabelle Rapin Child Neurology Division and Director of Clinical Neurophysiology at Montefiore. He is also the Charles Frost Chair in Neurosurgery and Neurology, Vice Chair, Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, and Professor of Neurology, Neuroscience and Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein). Dr. Moshé’s clinical focus is on epilepsy and electroencephalography with special emphasis on age-related influences on the expression, control and consequences of seizures. Dr. Moshe is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmus Nutans. He is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses West Syndrome, Spasmus Nutans, Post-Traumatic Epilepsy, and Epilepsy.
The Children's Hospital At Montefiore
Elissa G. Yozawitz, MD, is Director of Neonatal Neurology at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein and Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Yozawitz focuses on the neurological management of children, from the neonatal period through adolescence, particularly those with difficult-to-treat seizures. She also specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, stroke and seizures in the newborn. Dr. Yozawitz’s expertise includes electroencephalography (EEG) and state-of-the-art treatments. Dr. Yozawitz is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmus Nutans. She is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses West Syndrome, Epilepsy in Children, Spasmus Nutans, and Epilepsy.
Usually, this disorder goes away on its own within 1 to 2 years without treatment. Some children have residual eye symptoms that need follow-up care.
Contact your child's provider if your child has rapid, movements of the eyes, or head nodding. Your provider will need to perform an exam to check for other possible causes for the symptoms.
Summary: This is a phase II clinical trial in which children with refractory infantile spasms (also called epileptic spasms or West syndrome) will be treated with fenfluramine, to evaluate efficacy, safety, and tolerability. Patients with infantile spasms that have not responded to treatment with vigabatrin and ACTH we will be invited to participate. Study participants will undergo baseline video-EEG, rece...
Summary: Rare epilepsies as a whole account for 20-30% of epilepsies, but knowledge about prognostic factors is currently limited. This means that it is difficult to provide adequate information to families at diagnosis and during follow-up. Prognostic factors are also important for management as they can have an impact on the patient's outcome (time to intervention, choice of one molecule over another, et...
Published Date: April 16, 2025
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Hertle RW, Hanna NN. Supranuclear eye movement disorders, acquired and neurologic nystagmus. In: Lyons CJ, Lambert SR, eds. Taylor and Hoyt's Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 91.
Mikati MA, Obeld MM. Conditions that mimic seizures. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 634.
Rucker JC, Lavin PJM. Neuro-ophthalmology: ocular motor system. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley's and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 18.