بررسی شیوع تشنج و عوامل مرتبط در نوزادان بستری در بخش نوزادان بیمارستان بوعلی و امام خمینی شهر ساری

Background and purpose: Seizure is a common condition in neonatal period. In the absence of appropriate diagnosis and treatment, it can be associated with increased mortality and permanent neurological complications. This study was done to evaluate the prevalence, etiologies and risk factors for clinical neonatal seizure. Materials and methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 174 neonates have been studied who were admitted in neonatal ward of Bu-Ali Sina and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Sari with a primary diagnosis of neonatal seizure during March 2011 to March 2013. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Prevalence of seizure was 12.4% in our study. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was the most common etiology of neonatal seizure. The average time of onset in preterm infants was 1 day of life compared with term infants that was 3 days of life (P = 0.28). Mean age of affected neonates was 8 ± 1.2 days. The most common seizures type was colonic focal (38.5%). In comparison with female infants, male infants were more affected by seizure. Seizure in 62% of the patients was controlled with one anticonvulsant medication others needed more than one drug. Conclusion: This study showed that Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was the most common cause of neonatal seizure. Prematurity and low birth weight increased the risk of neonatal seizure. Therefore, further studies are recommended to understand the causes and ways to reduce risk factors for neonatal seizures.