Common Causes of Neonatal Seizure among Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Care Unit at Al Ramadi Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Children

Neonatal seizures are the transient occurrence of signs and symptoms due to an abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the neural cells causing paroxysmal electro clinical changes. Neonates are at high risk for seizures as compared to other age groups. The aim of this study was to identify the common causes that lead to neonatal seizure during the period from first of October 2020 to the end of July 2021using history, physical examination, and investigations in Al Ramadi teaching hospital for maternity and children. The total number of neonates diagnosed as neonatal seizure during the period of study in Al Ramadi teaching hospital for maternity and childhood was 64 cases. Total number of admissions to neonatal care unit was 4102 so the prevalence in neonatal care unit was 15.6 per 1000 live births. 30 (47.1 %) cases were diagnosed as perinatal asphyxia, 18 (28 %) cases were diagnosed as metabolic, 6 (9.4 %) cases were diagnosed as infections, seizures, 4 (6.3%) cases were diagnosed as intracranial hemorrhage, 3(4.6%) cases were diagnosed as CNS malformation, while 3 cases (4.6 %) were Unknown etiology. 38 (59.3%) of studied neonatal seizures were male, while 26 (40.7%) were female. Male to female ratio was (1.4:1). 37 (57.8%) were term babies (≥37 gestational age), while 27 (42.2%) were preterm babies (<37 gestational age). 41 (64%) of studied neonatal seizure cases were born by normal vaginal delivery, while 23 (36%) of cases were born by caesarian section delivery. The most common cause of neonatal seizure was perinatal asphyxia followed by metabolic causes then infection, intracranial hemorrhage, CNS malformations and unknown causes. Male are more common than female. In term neonates more common than preterm and in normal vaginal delivery more than cesarean section.