The recognition and management of neonatal seizures

Abstract 

Seizures are the most common and specific presentations of neurological disease in the neonatal period. Clinical seizure phenomena in the new-born differ from those observed in older infants and children, due to maturational differences of the central nervous system. The clinical presentation can be divided into four categories: (1) subtle or fragmentary, (2) clonic, (3) tonic, and (4) myoclonic seizures. Rapid establishment of the diagnosis is important in order to treat the seizure activity promptly and properly. In general, neonatal seizures are treated with anticonvulsants. However, some fits do not have to be treated with anticonvulsants, since cessation of seizures is achieved by supplementation of the substance in need (e.g. glucose). In other cases additional specific treatment is required (intracranial infections). For confirmation of the clinical observation electroencephalography is indispensable.

Keywords: new-born, seizures, EEG, anticonvulsants

No full text is available. To read the body of this article, please view the PDF online.

• f1 Correspondence to: MvdB. Tel.: +31-24-3613936; Fax +31-24-3619123; E-mail: m.vandebor@cukz.umen.nl