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 4 months and 1 year. It usually goes away by itself in several months or 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:
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, the provider will recommend appropriate treatment.
Kelly Knupp is a Neurologist and a Pediatrics expert in Aurora, Colorado. Knupp has been practicing medicine for over 26 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmus Nutans. She is also highly rated in 17 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Spasmus Nutans, West Syndrome, Epilepsy in Children, and Dravet Syndrome. She is licensed to treat patients in Colorado. Knupp is currently accepting new patients.
John Mytinger is a Neurologist and a Child Neurologist in Columbus, Ohio. Mytinger has been practicing medicine for over 18 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmus Nutans. He is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Spasmus Nutans, West Syndrome, Epilepsy in Children, and Epilepsy. He is licensed to treat patients in Ohio. Mytinger is currently accepting new patients.
Aristea Galanopoulou is a Neurologist in The Bronx, New York. Galanopoulou has been practicing medicine for over 35 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmus Nutans. She is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Spasmus Nutans, West Syndrome, Epilepsy, and Post-Traumatic Epilepsy. She is licensed to treat patients in New York. Galanopoulou is currently accepting new patients.
Usually, this disorder goes away on its own without treatment.
Call for an appointment with your child's provider if your child has rapid, movements of the eyes, or head nodding. The provider will need to perform an exam to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms.
Summary: The purpose of this study is to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of tricaprilin in subjects with infantile spasms. This is a single-arm, open-label, pilot study in up to 10 subjects with infantile spasms.
Summary: The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of AMZ002 compared to Vigabatrin in participants with newly diagnosed infantile spasms (IS).
Published Date: May 04, 2021
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 Zieve, MD, MHA, 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: Lambert SR, Lyons CJ, eds. Taylor and Hoyt's Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 90.
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.