Seizures in the newborn.
Seizures in the newborn period constitute a medical emergency. Subtle seizures are the commonest type of neonatal seizures, other types being clonic, tonic, and myoclonic. Myoclonic seizures carry the worst prognosis in terms of long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is the most common cause of neonatal seizures. Multiple etiologies often co-exist in neonates and hence it is essential to rule out conditions such as hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, and meningitis before initiating specific therapy. A comprehensive approach for management of neonatal seizures has been described.
Sankar
M Jeeva
MJ
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India. sdeorari@yahoo.com.
Agarwal
Ramesh
R
Aggarwal
Rajiv
R
Deorari
Ashok K
AK
Paul
Vinod K
VK
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D020936:Epilepsy, Benign Neonatal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000150:complications; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000150:complications; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000150:complications; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications; D012640:Seizures / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
D000927:Anticonvulsants