Evaluation of clinical profile of neonatal seizures and outcome interventions

Abstract

Background: Seizures are most likely to occur in the neonatal period than at any other point in life. A prompt diagnosis and aggressive management is critical in developing short- or long-term adverse neuro-developmental outcome including cerebral palsy, post-neonatal epilepsy and intellectual disability. Therefore, we evaluated the different causes, clinical characteristics, types and immediate outcome of neonatal seizures. Material and methods: Present study was carried out among 191 neonates (age 0 to 28 days) who presented to the hospital with history of seizures or who developed seizures during hospital stay. Male babies were more than females. Results: Onset of seizures on first day of life was seen among 73 neonates, 81 (42.41%) neonates had subtle seizures. Gestational age of neonates was 86 (46.03%) were full term babies and 105 (54.97%) were preterm babies. 54.45% (104 cases) had normal vaginal delivery and 39.27% (75 cases) by LSCS and 6.28% (12 cases) were born with the assistance of forceps. Birth weight of neonates was 102 (53.40%) babies were under weight (<2.5kg) and 89 (46.06%) babies were weighing >2.5 kg. The etiology of seizures was 107 (56.02%) had birth asphyxia, 34 (17.08%) had septicemia, 29 (15.18%) had hypoglycaemia, 11 (5.78%) had hypocalcaemia, 2 (1.05%) had bilirubin encephalopathy and 8 (4.19%) had unknown reason for experiencing seizures. 163 neonates (85.34%) were successfully discharged and 28 neonates (14.66%) were expired. Conclusion: Neonatal seizures typically showed underlying unidentified neurological disease and it presented non-specific response of the immature neural system to varied degrees of insults.