Extract of a letter from my specialist to my doctor in Cairns.  Dated: 24^th February, 1977

At about five months of age he developed typical massive spasms occurring in bursts of about 12 body flexions up to 7 to 8 times per day. These settled after treatment with intramuscular Synacthen and later oral steroid for some three months. He is now only taking Mogadon � tablet twice daily and has not had any episodes for at least three months.

At 10 months, pulling himself up to sit, will stand and walk with support.

There is one brother age 21 months who is well and both parents are well. There is no family history of any neurological disease.

On clinical examination he was bright and cheerful. Head circumference at 46cm is at the 50th percentile for age. There was no cardiac bruit head and the liver and spleen were just palpable. There was no evidence of any retinitis on a fairly good view of the fundus. His hearing was intact. Tone and reflexes were quite normal. He exhibited a good parachute response which is quite inkeeping with his chronological age.

I have arranged an x-ray of skull to determine the presence of any calcification and a repeat E.E.G.

It is difficult to say that the problem is due to rubella since he exhibits no other clinical features of the disease at present and it is quite possible that it was related to the apparent hypoxia at birth. There was no clinical evidence of congenital rubella.


An extract of another letter from my specialist to my doctor in Cairns.  Dated: 2^nd March, 1977

The E.E.G. was within broad limits of normal though the background looks a little unstable. There is certainly no evidence of hypsarrythmia on the recording.

The x-rays of skull were reported as normal and I feel that you should continue his Mogadon at � tablet twice daily for at least another six months. If he remains seizure free in that time and is contiinuing to make good progress then I would try to wean him off slowly then.