Investigation of the Clinical presentation and etiological factors of neonatal seizures: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: The occurrence of neonatal seizures per se has been positively correlated with structural brain damage and its consequent sequels at later stages in life. This study was conducted to determine the incidence, etiology, clinical type, and outcome of seizures in newborns hospitalized in neonatal intensive care.Materials and Methods: Age on admission for neonates who presented with seizures or later on developed seizures in the hospital varied between 0 days to 25 days with a mean value of 3.1+0.6 days. Among the neonates convulsing in the hospital 58.3% (n=70) comprised of males and 41.6% (n=50) comprised of females. 78.3% (n=94) belonged to rural areas, while as around 16% (n=21.6) were hailing from urban localities. Results: Estimation of sample size: Sample size was calculated on the basis of prevalence of neonatal seizures in hospitalized children reported from previous studies of around 4%.The total sample size calculated was around 65, however we decided to take at least 120 patients. Seizure type was diagnosed by clinical observations made by the authors and the resident doctors. The etiology was based on laboratory findings, and /or imaging studies of the brain   (ultrasonography, CT scan).Conclusion: Biochemical abnormalities were commonly associated with other etiologies like asphyxia, intracranial hemorrhage and meningitis; hence these should be actively sought for and treated for optimal seizure control.