Neonatal seizures

Seizures are the most common neurological symptom in the neonatal period. The frequency of seizures is especially high in very low birth weight premature babies. The most common etiologies for seizures are Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, CNS infections and intracranial bleeding. Some of the habitual suspicious events are not associated with epileptic activity on EEG. Routine EEG recording is not helpful in detecting epileptic events. The treatment of choice is loading of phenobarbital with a gradual dose increase up to 40 mg/kg. In the absence of therapeutic response, phenytoin is added. Neurological sequel at follow-up is correlated with etiology, neurological status of the newborn and background EEG.