ABSTRACT
West syndrome. When it has started in childhood it may continue in adulthood, and it may appear at various ages, from baby to adolescent and, exceptionally, to adult.
Ictal symptomatology Tonic seizures constitute one of the main signs of this syndrome. They are axial, axial and proximal, or global, and symmetrical or asymmetrical. They involve sudden flexion of the neck and body, raising the arms in a semi-flexed or extended position, extension of the legs, contraction of the facial muscles, sometimes restricted to the lower lip, rolling the eyes, apnea and facial flushing. Enuresis can occur and pupils are usually dilated. This can lead to sudden falling. Loss of consciousness does not occur in all instances. Return to normal consciousness is always concomitant with the end of the EEG discharge. They are diurnal and nocturnal. During sleep, they are often short, with only rolling of the eyes and change in the respiratory rhythm, and they can escape attention. Alternatively, when they are long, they can culminate in a tremor pattern. In other cases they can be followed by a phase of gestural automatisms.
