Clinical Pattern, Aetiology And Short Term Outcome Of Neonatal Seizures In Khartoum State

Abstract

This is a descriptive, cross sectional, hospital based study conducted between August 2004 -February 2005. Five hospitals representing Khartoum State were selected, including Omdurman Maternity Hospital (OMH), Soba University Hospital (SUH), Khartoum Children Emergency Hospital (KCEH), Omdurman Children Emergency Hospital (OCEH) and Ahmed Gasim Hospital (AGH). The purpose was to study the clinical Pattern of neonatal seizures, possible underlying causes and to determine short term outcome in the acute illness and neonatal period. Seventy five newborns with neonatal seizures from the first attack and throughout the neonatal period were studied. The admissions represented 2.3%, 1.5% of INCUs admissions in OMH and SUH respectively and 0.21%, 0.23% and 0.07% of general pediatric case admissions in KCEH, AGH and OCEH respectively. Of the seventy five newborns, 61.33% developed seizures within the first 48 hours of age. III The study found that the neonatal sepsis and birth asphyxia were the principal etiological factors in 53%, 25% of cases, respectively. The findings of the clinical pattern of the seizures were 55 (73.33%) multifocal, 10 (13.33%) focal, seven (9.33%) tonic, two (2.7%) subtle and one (1.3%) myoclonic seizures. Poor prognosis was associated with neonatal sepsis, birth asphyxia, multifocal, focal seizures and development of seizure in the first 48 hours of age. The mortality was 18 (24%) cases mainly during the acute illness and only one during the neonatal period. Detectable causes of neonatal seizures in our environment appear to be potentially preventable by improved obstetric and neonatal care. There is bad need also to provide modern facilities for investigating newborn seizures in order to improve upon diagnostic yield and better management.