Causes for AIWS are still not known exactly. A research published in BioMed Research International journal suggests that unusual electrical activity in the brain can cause abnormal blood flow to the parts of the brain that process the environment and experience visual perception; which can lead to this condition. The cause of this unusual electrical activity is what is still not proven. According to a research in the Pediatric Neurology Journal, 33 percent of people who experienced AIWS had previously had infections. 6 percent of AIWS episodes were tied to head trauma and migraines. But more than half of AIWS cases had no known cause. Other possible causes for this unusual brain activity include: stress, cough medicine, use of hallucinogenic drugs, epilepsy, stroke or brain tumor.
There is also no proven, effective treatment for AIWS. Luckily, most cases naturally disappear over time, leaving the patient without syndrome-related-problems by the time he or she hit adulthood. However, what doctors try to do is offer treatment for what they suspect might be causing AIWS. For example, if your AIWS tied to experiencing migraines, treating the migraines could prevent future AIWS episodes. The same with infections, stress or any other factors you and your doctor suspect. The best thing you should do if you or your child experience this syndrome is to relax and wait for it to pass. AIWS episodes usually last from a few seconds to a few minutes, and they can happen several times a day for several days in a row, and then you may not experience symptoms for several weeks or months.