What is the mortality and morbidity associated with neonatal seizures?

Answer

Neonatal seizures are a risk factor that markedly increases rates of long-term morbidity and neonatal mortality. The presence of neonatal seizures is the best predictor of long-term physical and cognitive deficits. Complications of neonatal seizures may include the following:

Cerebral palsy/spasticity
Cerebral atrophy/Hydrocephalus ex-vacuo
Epilepsy
Feeding difficulties

Did this answer your question?

Yes No

Additional feedback? (Optional)

Thank you for your feedback!

Volpe JJ. Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Biochemical and Physiological Aspects. Neurology of the Newborn. 4th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2000. 217-276.
Lombroso CT. Neonatal seizures: gaps between the laboratory and the clinic. Epilepsia. 2007. 48 Suppl 2:83-106. [Medline].
Sheth RD. Electroencephalogram confirmatory rate in neonatal seizures. Pediatr Neurol. 1999 Jan. 20(1):27-30. [Medline].
Silverstein FS, Jensen FE. Neonatal seizures. Ann Neurol. 2007 Aug. 62(2):112-20. [Medline].
Hwang SK, Kwon S. Early-onset epileptic encephalopathies and the diagnostic approach to underlying causes. Korean J Pediatr. 2015 Nov. 58 (11):407-14. [Medline].
Sheth RD, Hobbs GR, Mullett M. Neonatal seizures: incidence, onset, and etiology by gestational age. J Perinatol. 1999 Jan. 19(1):40-3. [Medline].
Sheth RD. Frequency of neurologic disorders in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Child Neurol. 1998 Sep. 13(9):424-8. [Medline].
Sheth RD, Bodensteiner JB. Delayed postanoxic encephalopathy: possible role for apoptosis. J Child Neurol. 1998 Jul. 13(7):347-8. [Medline].
Pisani F, Sisti L, Seri S. A scoring system for early prognostic assessment after neonatal seizures. Pediatrics. 2009 Oct. 124(4):e580-7. [Medline].
Vigevano F. Benign familial infantile seizures. Brain Dev. 2005 Apr. 27(3):172-7. [Medline].
Sheth RD, Buckley DJ, Gutierrez AR, et al. Midazolam in the treatment of refractory neonatal seizures. Clin Neuropharmacol. 1996 Apr. 19(2):165-70. [Medline].
Cherian PJ, Deburchgraeve W, Swarte RM, De Vos M, Govaert P, Van Huffel S, et al. Validation of a new automated neonatal seizure detection system: a clinician's perspective. Clin Neurophysiol. 2011 Aug. 122(8):1490-9. [Medline].
Sheth RD. Electroencephalogram in developmental delay: specific electroclinical syndromes. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 1998 Mar. 5(1):45-51. [Medline].
Glass HC, Shellhaas RA, Wusthoff CJ, Chang T, Abend NS, Chu CJ, et al. Contemporary Profile of Seizures in Neonates: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Pediatr. 2016 Jul. 174:98-103.e1. [Medline].
Shah DK, de Vries LS, Hellström-Westas L, Toet MC, Inder TE. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography in the newborn: a valuable tool. Pediatrics. 2008 Oct. 122(4):863-5. [Medline].
Natalucci G, Leuchter RH, Ulrich Bucher H, Latal B, Koller B, Hüppi PS, et al. Functional brain maturation assessed during early life correlates with anatomical brain maturation at term equivalent age in preterm infants. Pediatr Res. 2013 Apr 5. [Medline].
Peliowski-Davidovich A,. Hypothermia for newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Paediatr Child Health. 2012 Jan. 17(1):41-6. [Medline].
Scher MS, Trucco GS, Beggarly ME, et al. Neonates with electrically confirmed seizures and possible placental associations. Pediatr Neurol. 1998 Jul. 19(1):37-41. [Medline].
Sankar R, Painter MJ. Neonatal seizures: after all these years we still love what doesn't work. Neurology. 2005 Mar 8. 64(5):776-7. [Medline].
Painter MJ, Scher MS, Stein AD, et al. Phenobarbital compared with phenytoin for the treatment of neonatal seizures. N Engl J Med. 1999 Aug 12. 341(7):485-9. [Medline].
Khan O, Cipriani C, Wright C, Crisp E, Kirmani B. Role of intravenous levetiracetam for acute seizure management in preterm neonates. Pediatr Neurol. 2013 Nov. 49 (5):340-3. [Medline].
Sheth RD. Frequency of neurologic disorders in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Child Neurol. 1998 Sep. 13(9):424-8. [Medline].

Media Gallery

Onset of neonatal seizure demonstrating a focal onset in the right frontal (FP4) region. At this point, the child had head and eye deviation to the left.
Twenty seconds into a seizure that had focal onset in the right frontal (FP4) region, the seizure shows a rhythmic buildup of activity in the right frontocentral region.
This seizure had focal onset in the right frontal (FP4) region and subsequent buildup of activity in the right frontocentral region. As the seizure evolves, the electroencephalogram shows diffuse involvement of both cerebral hemispheres.

of 3

Author

Raj D Sheth, MD Chief, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Nemours Children's Clinic; Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine; Professor of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine

Raj D Sheth, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Epilepsy Society, American Neurological Association, Child Neurology Society

Disclosure: AAN reviewer, ACNS Ed board, Infantile spasms consultant for: AAN; ACNS; Mackilrodt.

Specialty Editor Board

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Stephen L Nelson, Jr, MD, PhD, FAACPDM, FAAN, FAAP Chief of Pediatric Neurology, Professor of Pediatrics, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, Epileptologist, Medical Director, Tulane Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Co-Director, Developmental Neurogenetics Center, Tulane University School of Medicine

Stephen L Nelson, Jr, MD, PhD, FAACPDM, FAAN, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Epilepsy Society, American Medical Association, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, Child Neurology Society, Southern Pediatric Neurology Society

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Biomarin; Supernus<br/>Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Biomarin; Supernus, Sunovion; American Board of Pediatrics.

Acknowledgements

Robert Stanley Rust Jr, MD, MA Thomas E Worrell Jr Professor of Epileptology and Neurology, Co-Director of FE Dreifuss Child Neurology and Epilepsy Clinics, Director, Child Neurology, University of Virginia; Chair-Elect, Child Neurology Section, American Academy of Neurology

Robert Stanley Rust Jr, MD, MA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, American Headache Society, American Neurological Association, Child Neurology Society, International Child Neurology Association, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

What is the mortality and morbidity associated with neonatal seizures?

Related Questions:

References

Tables

Contributor Information and Disclosures