Neonatal Seizure Types

 

 Reviewed by Malcolm Battin
January
2001
Clinical Guidelines Back Newborn Services Home Page

Back to Seizure Guideline

Type Physical Features EEG
Subtle
  • Eye signs - eyelid fluttering, eye deviation, fixed open stare, blinking
  • Apnoea
  • Cycling, boxing, stepping, swimming movements of limbs
  • Mouthing, chewing, lip-smacking, smiling
  • Often no EEG changes.
  • EEG changes most likely to occur with ocular manifestations
Tonic
  • Stiffening
  • Decerebrate posturing
  • EEG variable
Clonic
  • Repetitive jerking, distinct from jittering
  • Can be unifocal or multifocal
  • Usually changes identified
Myoclonic
  • Rare
  • Sleep myoclonus is benign
  • EEG often normal
  • Background EEG can be abnormal