What would cause a baby to have a seizure?
Baby seizures happen when an abnormal extra burst of electrical activity occurs between neurons, or brain cells, in a baby’s brain. These can happen for many reasons. Causes may include brain injury, infection, and underlying health conditions, such as cerebral palsy.
What are the symptoms of seizures in babies?
What are the symptoms of a seizure in a child?
- Staring.
- Jerking movements of the arms and legs.
- Stiffening of the body.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Breathing problems or stopping breathing.
- Loss of bowel or bladder control.
- Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness.
Is it common for babies to have seizures?
They’re quite common, especially in infants and young children, and they have a wide range of causes. Sometimes, seizures are triggered by a disease or injury, but for most children, there is no detectable cause. Sometimes other conditions, such as fainting or stroke, can look like seizures.
What is the most common type of seizure in infants?
Subtle seizures are the most common seizure types in new-born babies. Clonic seizures – the baby may have jerking or stiffening of an arm or leg that can switch from side to side. Myoclonic seizures – the baby’s whole upper body may suddenly jerk forward.
Can babies grow out of seizures?
Will my child outgrow seizures? Many children outgrow their seizures. A child is more likely to outgrow his seizures if he has a normal EEG, normal MRI, normal development, no other neurological problems, and the seizures are controlled easily with medication.
What causes absence of seizures in a child?
There are other types too though including, in children, ‘absence’ seizures. Sometimes there is a clear reason for epilepsy developing. This can include a severe blow to the head, an infection of the brain such as meningitis, or brain damage due to lack of oxygen during a difficult birth.
How often do febrile seizures occur in children?
A straightforward febrile seizure like this will only happen once during your child’s illness. Occasionally, febrile seizures can last longer than 15 minutes and symptoms may only affect one area of your child’s body. These are known as complex febrile seizures.
Is it normal for a baby to have seizures?
Development is normal and there is a FHx of neonatal seizures Early onset epileptic encephalopathy – presents with more difficult to control seizures. EEG demonstrates transient burst suppression and developmental delay is apparent.
How old do you have to be to have a seizure?
Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. They can cause a wide range of symptoms. Epilepsy can start at any age, but usually starts either in childhood or in people over 60.