What Are Neonatal Seizures?
Neonatal seizures are seizures that occur in an infant during the first 28 days after birth. If the infant was born prematurely, the neonatal period is longer, and in a premature infant it extends to 44 weeks after the date of conception, regardless of the date of birth. Less than half of neonates who have seizures will go on to have seizures later in life, but neonatal seizures are often a sign of neurological dysfunction. They are a risk factor for neonatal mortality and the development of a cognitive or physical disability. Seizures occur when a large group of neurons become depolarized at the same time. Depolarization means that the neurons have cell membrane changes that alter their net charge, causing the cells to transmit abnormal electrical signals to one another. The result of this is a change in electrical activity in these cells, which temporarily prevents normal function. Different types of seizures result, depending on the pattern of abnormal electrical activity.
