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.
Precision Epilepsy PLLC
John Millichap is a Pediatric Neurologist and a Neurologist in Illinois. Dr. Millichap is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmus Nutans. His top areas of expertise are West Syndrome, Spasmus Nutans, Epilepsy in Children, and Epilepsy. Dr. Millichap is currently accepting new patients.
Pediatric Academic Association, Inc.
John Mytinger is a Pediatric Neurologist and a Neurologist in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Mytinger is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmus Nutans. His top areas of expertise are West Syndrome, Spasmus Nutans, Epilepsy in Children, and Epilepsy. Dr. Mytinger is currently accepting new patients.
University Physicians Incorporated
Kelly Knupp is a Neurologist and a Pediatrics provider in Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Knupp is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmus Nutans. Her top areas of expertise are West Syndrome, Myoclonic Epilepsy, Spasmus Nutans, and Dravet Syndrome. Dr. Knupp is currently accepting new patients.
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: Infantile spasms are a type of seizure linked to developmental issues. Unfortunately, they are often misdiagnosed, causing delays in treatment. The purpose of this study is to develop a computer program that can reliably differentiate infantile spasms from similar, yet benign movements in videos. This computer program will learn from videos taken by parents of study participants. Quickly recognizi...
Summary: The ketogenic diet is a medical therapy for epilepsy that is used nearly predominantly for refractory epilepsy (after 2-3 drugs have been tried and failed). However, there is both published evidence for first-line use (infantile spasms, Glut1 deficiency syndrome) and also anecdotal experience (families choosing to change the child's (or the family' own) diet rather than use anticonvulsant medicati...
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.