Epilepsy Information

Occur in otherwise healthy newborns in the first two weeks of life.  The EEG patterns (brain waves) remain normal or relatively normal between seizures and overall prognosis including development and seizure control is good. Typically a diagnosis is made by ruling out other possibilities, unless there is a strong family history of benign neonatal convulsions.  Tests to rule out infection of the brain, stroke, or other brain injury or metabolic cause must be performed as these causes may be life threatening and require immediate intervention.  If no cause can be found despite a complete evaluation, the seizures are classified into one of the two epilepsy syndromes below:

Benign Familial Neonatal Convulsion
Benign Idiopathic Neonatal Convulsions (also called Fifth Day Fits)