Background: Neonatal Seizures are the most frequent and distinctive clinical manifestation of neurological dysfunction in the newborn infant. Seizure Recognition and Identification of its etiology is very important as it allows to treat the seizure actively and avoid preventable morbidity, mortality and sequelae attached to them. The aim of this study is to determine the clinico-biochemical profile of neonatal seizures.

Materials and Methods: This is a prospective observational study done for one year in the Department of pediatrics, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam from September 2019 to September 2020. A total of 125 newborns admitted to NICU (inborn+outborn) less than or equal to 28 days of age, with clinically identified seizures were included.

Results: Incidence of neonatal seizures was 3.7%,but the incidence of seizures was more in out born babies (12.53%) than inborn babies(2.72%). Incidence of seizures are 7 times more often in preterm infants than term infants. Incidence of neonatal seizures in LBW babies are 4.3 times more than normal weight babies. Neonatal seizures were more common in the first 72 hours of life. The most common type of seizure was found to be Subtle Seizures. The commonest cause of neonatal seizures was found to be Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (39.2%).

Conclusion: Higher incidence of Neonatal seizures was seen in neonates with maternal risk factors of which Pregnancy induced hypertension was the major cause found. Neonatal seizures are more common in preterm babies (14.31%), Low birth weight babies (8.19%) and male neonates .Seizures in neonates were common during the first 3 days of life (65.6%), the commonest cause being hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (39.2%). Subtle seizures were the most common type of seizure. The most common biochemical abnormality was hypoglycemia followed by hypocalcemia.

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Dr Srikanth Kandi

Post Graduates, Department of Pediatrics, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam