[Neonatal onset of epileptic syndromes. Causations and diagnostic process]

Neonatal convulsions are the most frequent form of expression of neurological pathology in the neonatal period. They represent a neurological emergency and thus require urgent diagnosis and treatment, as they are associated with a high risk of neonatal mortality or adverse neurological prognosis. Most neonatal convulsions are symptomatic and secondary to an identifiable causation. The causes vary widely. In this review we describe the electroclinical and aetiological aspects, and we also analyse the process of diagnosing the main epileptic syndromes in newborn infants. The importance of their diagnosis is due to the fact that some disorders are amenable to specific treatments, as in the case of some channelopathies or inborn errors of metabolism that are sensitive to vitamins. Early diagnosis and treatment are therefore essential to prevent a catastrophic outcome.