The Child Neurology Foundation (CNF) today announced the launch of a new educational website centered on infantile spasms (IS). The website, www.infantilespasmsinfo.org, is an educational resource developed by the CNF as one of the key components of Infantile Spasms Awareness Week.
Earlier this year, the CNF announced that the first annual IS Awareness Week will place this week in conjunction with the Child Neurology Society (CNS) Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, October 14-17, 2009. The goal of IS Awareness Week is to provide pediatricians, child neurologists, parents and caregivers with objective educational tools which will increase awareness and understanding of infantile spasms. It is widely recognized that early and aggressive treatment of IS can impact the prognosis of infants diagnosed with IS.
In addition to the launch of www.infantilespasmsinfo.org, the CNF is making available a new educational brochure and DVD intended to help parents, caregivers and physicians to better understand IS. The brochure includes an overview of IS, the challenges of diagnosis and a discussion of available treatment options; the DVD emphasizes the emotional impact of IS. The DVD includes stories of real IS patients and commentary from some of the nation's leading experts in the treatment of IS. All of these valuable resources help to paint the picture of a rare disease whose prognosis can be impacted when diagnosed and treated early and aggressively.