Question
What is neonatal epilepsy? Why would a child without a family history of epilepsy develop seizure symptoms?
Answer
Neonatal epilepsy can be attributed to a multitude of factors. These include potential injuries to the fetus during pregnancy, such as maternal abdominal injury, uterine bleeding, exposure to ultraviolet light, and the use of medications harmful to the fetus, as well as infections by microorganisms like rubella, measles virus, and toxoplasmosis. These conditions may lead to abnormal brain development, which in turn can result in seizure symptoms after birth. Additionally, complications during labor such as difficulty breathing due to amniotic fluid aspiration, umbilical cord entanglement around the neck, premature placental abruption, placenta previa, prolapse of the umbilical cord, and cesarean section can also increase the risk of developing epilepsy later on.