What Are Neonatal Seizures?
Seizures are uncontrolled and involuntary electrical activity in the brain. Newborn babies with low birth weight and premature term are more likely to be at risk of getting neonatal seizures. It is a neurological condition that occurs suddenly due to various factors. In the first month of their life, neonates have immature brain development. Due to different pathophysiology and clinical manifestation, it is comparatively difficult to recognize and diagnose its signs and symptoms.
Newborns have immature brain development, which makes them unique and more vulnerable to external and pathological triggers. As a result, if these triggers are given to the brain, it is very much likely to get provoked, resulting in seizures. Seizures can cause severe damage to homeostasis and the brain. In infants, it can cause neurological impairment, developmental growth delay, or in extreme conditions, death. Because of this, it is very important to diagnose them as soon as possible.
What Are the Types of Neonatal Seizures?
There are four main types of neonatal seizures seen in children such as:
- Subtle Seizures: It has very mild symptoms, so it is easy to miss them. There is almost a 50 percent chance that seizures are of this type. There are subtle seizures in neonates, such as ocular, oral, apnea-related, autonomic phenomena, and limb movements. An electrocardiogram is required to diagnose this type of seizure.
- Clonic Seizures: These types of seizures are commonly related to changes in the electroencephalogram. Almost two to three movements per second are seen with this type of seizure. For instance, a fast contraction is immediately followed by a slow relaxation phase. This type of seizure involves the face, arms, legs, or trunk. This type of seizure can be focal, multifocal, bilaterally symmetrical, or asymmetrical.
- Tonic Seizures: This extreme and rigorous kind of seizure causes loss of consciousness. The duration of this type is almost 20 seconds with a sudden contraction of muscles which usually occurs while a person is sleeping. This type of seizure usually affects one extremity, especially eye deviation. This type of seizure can be focal or unilateral or bilaterally symmetrical or asymmetrical. Usually, premature babies are more affected by it.
- Myoclonic Seizures: These types of seizures have frequency-like waves and are non-rhythmical. For instance, it occurs in a pattern of sudden shock and relaxation. Usually, this type of seizure occurs due to alcohol consumption, fever, light stimulation, or infectious conditions. This type of seizure is seen in babies due to premature birth or congenital metabolism defect. This type of seizure can be focal, multifocal, bilaterally symmetrical, or asymmetrical.
What Are the Causes of Neonatal Seizures?
There are the following causes behind seizures in neonates:
- Sudden decrease or gradual decrease of oxygen level during or before birth owing to premature detachment of the placenta.
- Stroke that occurs before or after birth.
- Blood clot in the brain.
- Bleeding in the brain.
- Infectious conditions include bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, toxoplasmosis, and syphilis. Also, systemic infections associated with the central nervous system can be the reason behind this condition in neonates.
- Developmental birth defects related to the brain.
- Electrolyte and sugar imbalances cause many complications.
- Metabolic disorders, causing such as hypoglycemia, phenylketonuria, or pyridoxine dependency.
- Mothers are addicted to drugs and have drug withdrawal symptoms. These drugs can be alcohol, barbiturates, heroin, cocaine, or methadone. There are chances of babies being born with conditions such as seizures.
- Also, it is an autosomal dominant inherited condition. This suggests that either one of the dominant genes can be the reason behind this condition.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Neonatal Seizures?
From subtle to severe movements, seizures can be very complex to diagnose. Additionally, neonates with seizures show the same movements as normal babies would. Some symptoms are seen according to their type, such as:
1) Symptoms of Subtle Seizures:
- Random movements of eyes such as fluttering, blinking, or rolling.
- Unusual tongue movements, such as sucking, smacking, or chewing movements.
- Unusual movement of legs, such as hyper paddling or bicycling movements.
- Long pauses in breathing, also known as apnea.
- Struggling movements.
2) Symptoms of Clonic Seizures:
- Rhythmic jerking-like movements of face and limbs.
3) Symptoms of Tonic Seizures:
- Visible tightening of the body muscles.
- Turning the eyeball to one side along with the face.
- Stretching of a particular side of limbs.
4) Symptoms of Myoclonic Seizures:
- Quick jerking-like movements of a single side of the body.
How to Diagnose Neonatal Seizures?
Investigation of seizures should be as immediate as possible after recognizing the sign. The following are investigation options:
1) Physical Examination: If neonates have unusual physical movements at the time of delivery, the doctors should immediately provide them with medical attention.
2) Plasma Examination:
- Blood glucose.
- Urea and electrolytes examination.
- Blood gas- CO2 (carbon dioxide), bicarbonate, and lactate examination.
- Liver function test.
- Full blood count.
- Blood cultures.
- Virology tests.
3) Urine Examination:
- Cultura- Bacterial.
- Virology test.
4) CSF (Cerebral Spinal Fluid) Examination:
- Bacterial culture.
- Virology.
- Glucose.
- Protein.
5) Imaging:
- Cranial ultrasound.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Electroencephalogram is a very useful tool to diagnose the electrical activity of the brain.
6) Other:
- Throat swab for viral infection.
- Bacterial and viral swabs for skin or other organ infections.
How to Manage Neonatal Seizures?
Usually, the management of seizure activity has three main components such as observing, assessing, and managing. The following are the options to manage seizures in neonates:
- It is essential to first identify the signs of seizures in neonates. Moreover, identifying the underlying reason behind this condition is equally essential.
- Anticonvulsant medication is prescribed to control seizures. Additionally, doctors prescribed Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Lorazepam.
- If the diagnosis suggests a condition such as low or not enough oxygen in the brain hypothermia treatments are recommended. This involves cooling down the newborn’s body and brain by a few degrees, along with close monitoring. As the vitals get back to normal, the body temperature is brought back to normal.
Conclusion:
Neonatal seizures can be fatal if not diagnosed at an early stage. Moreover, it is a condition that requires interdisciplinary medical care and attention. It is very important for parents and doctors to recognize the first sign of this condition. If a seizure lasts more than five minutes in children patients should immediately seek medical attention. A delay of a few minutes can be life-threatening in severe cases.
