[Convulsions in the early neonatal period]

Convulsions are relatively frequent in neonatal population. They are also the most dramatic sign of a disorder of the central nervous system. Clinical signs of convulsive seizures in neonatal period differ greatly from those occurring in a later stage. Our study involves a five year period, in the course of which we analysed all newborns with convulsions occurring in the early neonatal period. The objective of the study was to determine the incidence, aetiology and time of occurrence of convulsions, to determine the mortality rate in this group of newborns and to assess risk factors for the development of convulsions. In 29.423 newborns tested in the course of the study at our Clinic, convulsions were found in 38 (0.13%) of them. Regarding the gestation age, 68.4% of the cases of convulsion occurred in at term newborns. The most frequent aetiology factor was a perinatal damage, in 60.4%, and the majority of convulsive seizures occurred in the period between the 2nd and 7th day (84.3%). Five of the tested newborns died (13.5%), three of them having suffered from convulsions in the first 24 hours. The authors came to the conclusion that many factors influence the development of convulsions, and that the occurrence of convulsions in the first 24 hours and heavy perinatal brain damage give bad prognostics for survival.