My son was diagnosed with having an Exaggerated Startle Response episode last night. He has a cold and possible had a low grade fever and Sunday night was sleeping on my husbands lap. He jerked awake and went tonic with his body, legs. His arms were drawn up and fingers were clawed. What caused this? The neurologist says this just sometimes happens. He is 3.
Hi, Is this the first episode? How long the jerking and posturing lasted then? Any Chat Doctor.  Usually this needs nothing other than treatment of fever. Only in recurring cases we give anti-epileptic prophylaxis. Startle response is likely if such episodes comes during sudden sensory stimuli like loud noise or flash of light-this will be just momentary with no disturbance in sensorial or posturing. Kindly get back with more details or discuss with your pediatrician. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care