Neonatal Seizures

Question 1

Many babies startle/tremor when stimulated or make jerks during sleep. In contrast, seizures are…

Answer 1

Unstimulated

Question 2

What symptoms/signs are associated?

Answer 2

Repetitive (clonic) movements of limbs that persist despite restraint
Often accompanied by eye movements and changes in respiration

Question 3

What are used to confirm changes in electrical discharge in the brain?

Answer 3

Amplified-integrated electroencephalogram aEEG (cerebral function monitor)

Question 4

When seizures are observed, what needs to be excluded or treated straight away?

Answer 4

Hypoglycaemia

Meningitis

Question 5

What imaging is required?

Answer 5

A cerebral USS to identify haemorrhage or cerebral malformation

Question 6

Identification of cerebral ischaemic lesions or malformations on USS require what further imaging?

Answer 6

MRI brain

Question 7

How are they treated?

Answer 7

Directed at cause whenever possible

Question 8

What causes are there?

Answer 8

HIE
Cerebral infarction
Sepsis/meningitis
Metabolic: hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia/hypernatraemia, hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesia, inborn errors of metabolism, pyrioxine dependency
ICH 
Cerebral malformations
Drug withdrawal e.g maternal opiates
Congenital infections 
Kernicterus