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A Newborn was brought to the NICU 4 days after birth because he developed a high temperature.
I asked if that was the only symptom, they said it was.
"The baby is very playful and active, he even has a few tricks up his sleeves" the father said.
A Newborn was brought to the NICU 4 days after birth because he developed a high temperature.
I asked if that was the only symptom, they said it was.
"The baby is very playful and active, he even has a few tricks up his sleeves" the father said.
Automatically his statement caught my attention. Even though I believe newborns are rather mischievous, I am not sure playful and tricky are the words to use. I asked what the tricks were. Father said the child winks at people when they carry him...
The mother quickly interrupted "You forgot to mention that he 'yinmus' (Sorry I cannot find the english word for yinmu)"
At this point, the child started again; The whole family was laughing, and couldn't understand why I suddenly became serious.
At this point, the child started again; The whole family was laughing, and couldn't understand why I suddenly became serious.
The child was convulsing, but because it wasn't the usual jerky movement seen in older children, they couldn't recognize it. I quickly got something to abort the seizures and went ahead to take history.
The child was delivered at home and didn't cry at birth.
The child was delivered at home and didn't cry at birth.
I told them I was admitting the child, but they couldn't wrap their heads around it. The child was otherwise well; "very playful infact" they thought! If not for the fever, they didn't think anything was wrong with the child.
While still going back and forth on the need for admission, the child started crying, the cry was high pitched! Everyone was excited about the cry except me.
The grandmother said "All the cry he didn't cry at birth, he is crying it now! Thank God"
The grandmother said "All the cry he didn't cry at birth, he is crying it now! Thank God"
I was quick to let her know that the cry was not normal and the child in fact was convulsing again!
A newborn could convulse for diverse reasons, the most common ones are;
●No or poor cry at birth (Birth Asphyxia)
●Low blood glucose which could be due to poor feeding
● Very bad jaundice
●Infection e.t.c
●No or poor cry at birth (Birth Asphyxia)
●Low blood glucose which could be due to poor feeding
● Very bad jaundice
●Infection e.t.c
Recognizing convulsion in a newborn however could be difficult. Some have a very unusual high pitched-cry, some smack their lips like they are hungry (these are wrongly labeled as foodies) Some blink excessively, some have twitches, some seem to be riding a bicycle e.t.c
They have this subtle convulsions because their brains are not developed enough to coordinate the typical convulsion!
These subtle seizures are difficult to recognize; any child that has a funny or abnormal movement should be taken to a hospital for evaluation.
These subtle seizures are difficult to recognize; any child that has a funny or abnormal movement should be taken to a hospital for evaluation.
If possible, make a video of the movement so you can show the doctor when trying to describe it.
A convulsing newborn (a convulsing child) should not be nursed at home.
The brain of a newborn is still developing and any damage done to that brain at this crucial time is usually permanent.
A convulsion can mean an impending damage that could be reversed before it happens
The brain of a newborn is still developing and any damage done to that brain at this crucial time is usually permanent.
A convulsion can mean an impending damage that could be reversed before it happens
Kindly take your newborn to a hospital before the damage is done.
Once the damage is done, if the child survives, he could develop a Cerebral palsy, which is another ball game entirely!
Once the damage is done, if the child survives, he could develop a Cerebral palsy, which is another ball game entirely!
