Talk:Epileptic spasms

Need Feedback
I have recieved a message from Artisana, because she feels like I am violating the nuetral view policy. This was brought about, because I have a link to my daughter's web page, which contains a video of her while she is having an infantile spasm. Artisana is the only person that has expressed concern over this. The Nuetral View policy discourages the posting of a link to your own personal page, unless it is pertinent to the article. I feel that a video of a child experiencing a Spasm is an educational item, and and serves purpose in the article. I am not expressing an opinion about Infantile Spasms, nor does the page I have linked, therefore I do not see how this could violate the nuetral point of view policy. I would like feedback from others interested in this article. Thanks, Johnppd24
 * First, my name is Aristiana, not Artisana. Second, when writing in a place like this, you should sign using the 4 tildes ( ~ ), which adds your name and the date. This way people will know when you wrote that message.


 * Now, about the reason why I contacted you. I'll copy here all I wrote on your talk page, since you don't mention it.

I don't want to fall into an edit war, so I'm contacting you about the West Syndrome article. You keep adding a link to your personal website, which is not along Wikipedia's guideline. As a reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:External_links

This site is your personal web site, as I mentionned earlier, but it's also heavy with java/javascript, doesn't work well with some browsers and require technology not everyone has one their computer. So if you could either remove it or start a discussion on the Talk Page, I'm sure we could find a solution. Aristiana 12:03, 21 June 2006 (UTC)


 * As you can see, it's not just about the neutral point of view policy. If you want to publish a video, you can link directly to it. Use this link as a guideline on how to publish rich media on Wikipedia: Rich media


 * Also, something I didn't mention in my first message to you. You ask for donation on your website. This could be seen as a way to have free publicity for your donations.


 * Oh, by the way, calling me a "Nazi" won't help anything, except start a flamewar. A good thing I don't fall for it so easilly. --Aristiana 12:37, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

I've removed all the external links that fail to meet Wikipedia's guidelines. I've actually moved the remaining two links into the references section. I know they possibly were not used as references when "creating" the article but they have certainly been used when reviewing this article. Removing the "External links" section also helps discourage spam.

Whilst links to charities and forums may be perceived as "useful", they are not what Wikipedia is about. Remember: Everyone has Google and can very easily find such web sites themselves.

Wrt the personal/fundraising web site - this fails on many of the negative criteria on External_links. In particular, a web site owner/author is explicitly forbidden from adding a link to their own site.

Please read Civility before responding. Thanks. Colin°Talk 13:05, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

West syndrome
is west syndrome a distint entity? should it has a page of its own? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.28.179.5 (talk) 11:51, 30 May 2015 (UTC)

West syndrome are infantile spasms + characteristic EEG patterns + mental retardation. I believe infantile spasms and West syndrome generally discussed together, although they are technically separate entities. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 175.32.176.101 (talk) 01:26, 21 April 2019 (UTC)


 * Epileptic spasm is a seizure type. West syndrome is an epilepsy syndrome.  These are distinct terms.
 * TMM53 (talk) 21:08, 8 May 2023 (UTC)

Change page name to Infantile Spasms?
This page is specifically referring to the epileptic spasms occurring in West Syndrome. These are generally referred to infantile spasms in the literature as opposed to epileptic spasms which is a more general term from what I have read. As such would it be more precise to name this page infantile spasms? Loquacioushoneybee (talk) 07:28, 31 May 2020 (UTC)


 * ILAE 2017 classification of seizures uses the term: Epileptic spasms. Therefore, epileptic spasms is correct.  ILAE is the internationally recognized organization for epilepsy nomenclature.
 * TMM53 (talk) 21:00, 8 May 2023 (UTC)

Why is this called Epleptic spasms if it's talking about West syndrome?
I feel like it should be renamed to West syndrome DiaamondMiner999 (talk) 23:09, 27 September 2021 (UTC)


 * Epileptic spasms is the recognized term for a seizure type (ILAE 2017) so this is the correct label to use. TMM53 (talk) 21:01, 8 May 2023 (UTC)

What does it even mean?
Quote: "The prognosis for children with idiopathic West syndrome are mostly more positive than for those with the cryptogenic or symptomatic forms." --- To my mind, this sounds like gibberish. Idiopathic is the same as cryptogenic. If it's not, no distinction is given in the article. "Cryptogenic or symptomatic" is gibberish, because for the syndrome to be even noticed, it has got to be symptomatic. Similarly, "idiopathic rather than symptomatic" is utter nonsense, for the same reason. --CopperKettle (talk) 04:19, 22 May 2022 (UTC)


 * Incorrect. For epilepsy, idiopathic means a generalized onset epilepsy that likely arises from a genetic mechanism.  For example, idiopathic epilepsy includes juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy.  Cryptogenic means an epilepsy that arises from an unknown mechanism.  However, cryptogenic, symptomatic and idiopathic are outdated terms.  The current method to label seizures and epilepsy is given by the ILAE 2017 criteria.  When I have time, I will rewrite this article as it is outdated.
 * TMM53 (talk) 21:05, 8 May 2023 (UTC)