What causes neonatal seizures?
Patient: My baby had neonatal seizures and is in recovery now. The MRI report has this to say: Multiple small foci of of restricted diffusion in both hemispheres, Periventricular and probably in the paras a chital area including the genus of corpus callosum. The signal is abnormal in the bifrontal cortex. Basal ganglia is unaffected. Small amount of subarachnoid blood and small amount of blood in occipital horns. We are awaiting a formal meeting with the neurologist and neonatal radiologist. However, I d like to know more on this so that I am aware of what my child has gone through and what, if any, steps I need to take to help her out of this unfortunate juncture. Could you help me understand this a bit more and suggest a few questions to ask to gain more clarity? Many thanks. Arun Doctor: neonatal seizures occur most commonly due to Hypoxic insult to brain(during delivery or post delivery if child does not immediately cry), or due to metabolic causes like low glucose, low calcium or low magnesium. Seizures can be due to infections acquired during or after delivery. Small blood in Subarachnoid space signifies trauma to head during delivery which can be normal. Periventricular involvement in the brain is serious. Seizures can be controlled as of now with AED like Phenobarbitone but the effect of the condition on the neonatal brain cant be judged at present. What symptoms the child  might develop in the future cant be judged right now.