A Study of Clinico-Etiological Profile and Early Outcome of Neonatal Seizure

ABSTRACT

Background: Neonatal seizures are an important cause of mortality and morbidity in newborn period. This study was aimed to find out most common clinical type and etiology of neonatal seizure and their co- relation with early outcome.Methods: We prospectively reviewed the history and evaluated the newborns with seizures and also collected samples for biochemical investigations in neonatal ICU at tertiary health care centre and analysed the early outcome. Results: Total 90 newborns were recruited in the study , out of which, 38.8% newborns developed subtle seizure, followed by tonic in 32.8% , clonic in 23.3% and myoclonic in 5.5% neonates. Among the various etiological factors of seizure, birth asphyxia was the most commonly seen in 34.4% neonates. Second most common cause was septicaemia alone in 21.1%. In birth asphyxia most common type of seizure seen was subtle seizures (40.6%). Most common type of seizure in both term (58.3%) and preterm (31.8%) neonates was subtle seizure .Data suggests that the leading cause of mortality was birth asphyxia seen in 7.77% neonates and was more common in preterm neonates (4.44%) followed by septicaemia alone( 3.33%) neonates. Conclusion: According to present study, there was significant correlation between birth asphyxia and subtle seizures which was more commonly seen in preterm neonates. Also higher chances of mortality was found to be in neonates with birth asphyxia which can be prevented by adequate neonatal resusucitaion during first golden minute.