Neonatal Seizures

Neonatal seizures are most common neurological symptoms in neonate. It’s an emergency that reflect potentially significant insult to immature brain.A seizure is defined clinically as a paroxysmal alteration in neurologic function motor, behaviour and or autonomic function.The reported incidence of neonatal seizures has varied, owing to definitions and methods of seizures identification and surveillance. Reported seizures occurred in 3/1000 full-term infant and up to 60/1000 premature infants.There are many reasons for the increased susceptibility of the immature brain to seizure activity. Birth process itself entails several potential risks.Not every abnormal movement in neonates is a seizures. Neonatal seizures, whether epileptic or nonepileptic, must be differentiated from nonseizure behaviors of the newborn.Seizures patterns in newborn include Apnea with tonic stiffening of body, focal clonic movements, multifocal clonic movements. Myoclonic jerking, paroxysemal laughing, tonic deviation of the eyes and tonic stiffening of the body.Investigations are directed at elucidating the cause of the seizures and may include cranial ultrasound scan, estimation of blood glucose, bilirubin and electrolytes, occasionally lumbar puncture. Continuous EEG monitoring using compact digital systems with simultaneous video recording may be of value.Seizures may indicate the presence of a potentially treatable etiology and should prompt an immediate evaluation to determines cause and institute etiology specific therapy. In addition, seizures themselves may require emergent therapy anticonvulsent therapy.There is increasing evidence that neonatal seizures have an advance effect on neurodevelopmental outcome and predispose to cognitive, behavioural or epileptic complications in later life.