Neonatal seizures in Uyo: the burden, etiological factors and outcome

The significant neurological diseases in the newborn can manifest as seizures. Our aim is to establish the burden of neonatal seizures in Uyo, its etiological factors and outcome. This was a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study that was carried out between May 2013 and June 2018. The study was carried out in the neonatal unit of the University of Teaching Hospital, Uyo. Neonates with seizures, suspected seizures or with conditions associated with seizures were identified in the admission register. Information extracted included age at admission, age on onset, gestational ages of neonates, birth weight, mode of delivery, APGAR score, family history of seizures, social status of the parent, significant findings on physical examination. Prevalence rate was taken as the number of neonates with seizures over the total number of neonates admitted during the period. The prevalence of neonatal seizures in Uyo was 2.93%. Majority of the newborns with seizures were term babies. Birth asphyxia and infective causes either singly or in concert with other etiological factors were the important causes of neonatal seizures. Hypocalcaemia as a cause of neonatal seizures tended to show bimodal chronologic distribution. Bizarre movements and other types of subtle seizures were the most common seizure type in the general population. More complications were observed in babies whose periods of onset were within the first three days of life.