Yes, they often do. A seizure is a sudden disruption of the brain’s normal electrical activity. The abnormal electrical activity is accompanied by altered consciousness and/or other neurological and behavioral manifestations.
Seizure activity can be located in one part of the brain or may occur on both sides. Infant seizures are particularly dangerous; they must be diagnosed and treated immediately to ensure the best outcome for the baby.
The Dangers of Undiagnosed, Uncontrolled Infant Seizures
Seizure activity in an infant must be diagnosed & treated immediately because seizures can cause nerve cell injury & kill brain cells. Seizures may also adversely alter brain function in other ways like rewiring brain circuitry. The longer a seizure lasts, the more damage it does to the brain.
Some factors that influence how much brain damage a seizure will cause include:
- The cause of the seizure
- Seizure severity
- How much electrographic seizure activity is present
- The degree of brain involvement
- The duration of the seizure
Infant Seizures Should Be Treated Immediately
The longer the seizure activity is left undiagnosed and untreated, the greater the potential for permanent injuries to the baby. Brain injuries caused by seizures are associated with:
- Declines in cognitive function
- Cerebral palsy
- Intellectual and developmental disabilities
Seizures Have Many Possible Causes
The most common cause of infant seizures is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), or birth asphyxia. This is a serious condition where a newborn is deprived of oxygen at or around the time of birth.
Other causes of and risk factors for neonatal seizures include the following:
- Umbilical cord compression
- Trauma to the baby’s brain during delivery
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Central nervous system infection
- Metabolic problems, such as hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia
The combined presence of a low Apgar score (< 5 at five minutes), acidosis (pH < 7.0), and the baby having to be intubated and placed on a ventilator should alert physicians that seizure activity is likely to have occurred or will occur. Research shows that these factors have an 80% positive predictive value for clinical seizures.
If a baby has risk factors for seizures or is suspected to have seizure activity, it is critical that the physician closely monitor the baby. An EEG will likely be performed to determine if seizure activity is happening in the brain. In addition, an MRI or CT scan may be done to determine the cause of the seizures.
Treatment for Infant Seizures
When a baby shows signs of seizure activity, physicians should immediately evaluate the cause of the seizure and implement therapeutic interventions to treat the root cause of the seizures and to prevent further episodes and brain injury. In addition to treating the underlying cause, the seizure itself typically requires emergent therapy since it can adversely affect the baby’s stability. Antiepileptic drugs can be used to treat neonatal seizures.
Failing To Diagnose Or Treat A Seizure Disorder Is Negligence
If a physician fails to pay attention to signs that a baby is having or is likely to have seizure activity, and/or seizures go untreated, it is medical negligence. Should medical negligence result in injuries to the baby, it is medical malpractice.
If your child has a seizure disorder – with or without other neurological problems – birth injury attorneys at ABC Law Centers help. We can review your child’s medical records to determine whether negligence played a role in your child’s seizures. Our firm is unlike many others – we have an exclusive focus on birth injury law. Our primary goals are to (1) determine whether there was an error or negligence (2) and help you obtain the monetary compensation your child deserves.
