All issues > Volume 34(2); 1991

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1991;34(2):230-239. Published online February 28, 1991.

A clinical study on neonatal seizures.

Bong Sik Kong¹, Ri Sa Lee¹, Sang Kyu Park¹, Ho Jin Park¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Red Cross Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Received: July 12, 1990;  Accepted: October 17, 1990.

Abstract

Clinical observation were made on 57 cases of neonatal seizure who were admitted to the Depart- ment of pediatrics, Seoul Red Cross Hospital during the period of 7 years from Jan. 1983 to Dec. 1989. The results were as follows: 1) According to the type of delivery of neonates which showed neonatal seizure, normal vaginal delivery were 41 cases (71.9%), C-section delivary 11 cases (19.3%) and breech delivery were 5 cases (8.8%). 2) According to the gestational period, the frequency of preterm baby was 19.3% and of postterm baby was 5.3% and the majority of neonates were included to the term baby. 3) The most frequent cause of neonatal seizure was hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (36.8%), and followed by sepsis with or without meningitis (22.8%), intracranial hemorrhage (14%), hypoglycemia (5.3%), hyponatremia (5.3%) and kemicterus (3.5%) in order of frequency. 4) The onset of 12 cases (21%) of neonatal seizure appeared within 24hours of life, 11 cases (19.3%) in 2nd day and 5 cases (8.8%) in 3rd day. Two-third of neonatal seizure occurred within 7days of life. 5) The most frequent type of neonatal seizure was generalized tonic (54.4%) and followed by subtle (36.8%), multifocal clonic (5.3%) and myoclonic (3.5%) in order of frequency. 6) The brain CT were performed in 10 cases. They showed intracranial hemorrhage in 3 cases, frontal edema in 2 cases, massive hydrocephalus and ventriculitis, subdural hygroma in 1 case and there were no evidence of abnormality in 3 cases. 7) The result of EEG finding was normal (47.1%) and abnormal (52.9%). 8) As the result of treatment, 32 cases (56%) of neonatal seizure were discharge in the state of improvement, 19 cases (33.3%) were discharged against medical advice and 6 cases (10.5%) expired. 9) The most favorable outcome resulted from neonate with medical disturbance (improved in all cases) and the worst outcome resulted from neonate with intracranial hemorrhage (improved in 25%).

Keywords :Neonatal seizures