The birth of a baby is considered a joyful event. However, his appearance is often accompanied by new chores and worries. One of the common problems that young parents have to deal with is cramping in newborns. The causes of this disorder may vary. Typically, pediatricians associate the violation with the immaturity of the nervous system. There are other factors that cause the appearance of seizures. They will be discussed in today's article. We will also tell you how to recognize the disorder in a timely manner, what to do to parents in this situation.
Seizures in newborns: a description of the pathology
Cramps are involuntary intermittent muscle contractions that can vary in duration and intensity. Why do they arise? All processes in the body are regulated by the brain, including relaxation and muscle tension. In its cellular elements, which are called neurons, various biochemical reactions continuously occur. As a result, excitement occurs. Then the neurons transmit signals to the muscles, “ordering” to work and contract. However, not all so simple. Not every excitation in the cellular elements is transmitted to the muscles. Sometimes the brain "decides" to suspend the process. As a result, the excitation that arose in neurons does not reach the muscles.
When a certain irritating factor (inflammation or traumatic injury) affects the brain cells, and the inhibitory mechanism does not work, convulsions occur. In children, this violation occurs several times more often than adults. Doctors explain this trend with brain features. In babies, neurons are excited easily and quickly, and the processes of inhibition have not yet had time to finally form by this time. In rare cases, convulsions in a newborn are caused by various diseases.
The main reasons for the violation
According to statistics, every fifth premature baby has cramps. In children born on time, the problem is diagnosed with a frequency of up to 10-14 cases per 1000 newborns. Among the main causes of the disorder, pediatricians call the following:
- metabolic disturbance against hypoglycemia or calcium deficiency;
- lack of oxygen flow to the brain;
- CNS infection with subsequent development of ischemic encephalopathy;
- violation of the adrenal glands with their congenital pathology;
- hemolytic jaundice, which is a consequence of high bilirubin in the blood.
Who is at risk?
This pathology, as a rule, is diagnosed in children of the first year of life. At this time, the nervous system is characterized by underdevelopment and rapid excitability. The stages of maturation of the brain and the entire central nervous system determine the characteristics of the age-related manifestation of seizures. Numerous studies of this problem have identified the so-called risk group. Among the main factors predisposing to the occurrence of pathology, doctors distinguish:
- underdevelopment of the central nervous system;
- difficult birth;
- mother consuming narcotic substances or alcohol during pregnancy;
- cord entanglement, asphyxiation;
- violation of labor.
The presence of one or more items from this list increases the likelihood that parents will have to face the problem of cramps in the baby.
The main manifestations of pathology
Seizures in a newborn usually occur within a few days after the baby is born. Parents begin to worry about the health of the crumbs when the upper part of his body and legs begin to tremble for no reason. Quite often, doctors diagnose tremor in newborns. This is a condition in which the chin and arms slightly shakes. These symptoms indicate the neurological nature of the pathology and require immediate consultation with a specialist.
Cramps in newborns in a dream are also possible. They capture mainly the lower limbs. At the same time, the child begins to scream, to jerk his legs. In rare cases, the attack is accompanied by breath holding. At night, such convulsions indicate developing epilepsy. However, most often they indicate the immaturity of the central nervous system and pass after the first year of life.
What types of seizures are there?
Seizures in a newborn and older children are distinguished by their nature. The gradation of pathology depends on the development of brain functions. Therefore, doctors distinguish the following types of convulsive contractions.
- Minor cramps are usually a harbinger of serious brain abnormalities. Among the main manifestations of the disorder can be called trembling and blinking of the eyes, some muscles of the face, as well as limbs. Blue skin is sometimes observed.
- Tonic convulsions in newborns have the following symptoms: muscle tension of the whole body, short-term breath-holding. In this case, the baby takes an extensor posture, and his head is thrown back. This condition can last several minutes. Similar attacks are characteristic of premature babies.
- Clonic convulsions are characterized by rhythmic twitching of a certain part of the body. They are focal, multifocal and generalized. The latter are distinguished by cyanosis and respiratory rhythm disturbance.
- Myoclonic seizures in newborns are extremely rare. With this disorder, a sharp twitching of the whole body or individual limbs is observed. In babies of the first year of life, this pathology indicates a serious damage to the brain, moreover, of a congenital nature.
Possible consequences
Symptoms of pathology cannot be ignored. You should immediately seek help from a doctor. After a full examination, the children's doctor will be able to determine what the convulsions of the newborn are associated with. The causes of the disease, as a rule, determine the tactics of treatment.
The lack of competent therapy often leads to irreversible consequences. First of all, cramps can be associated with brain damage or diabetes. A timely diagnosis increases the likelihood of a speedy recovery. Also, during an attack, the brain undergoes a huge oxygen deficiency, which necessarily affects the metabolic processes and incoming energy. If the convulsions are frequent, the baby begins to lag behind in physical development, his intellect suffers.
Diagnostic Methods
Not every jerking or trembling in the limbs should be mistaken for cramps in newborns. The causes of this disorder can only be determined by a specialist. To make the correct diagnosis, you need to contact a pediatrician and undergo an examination. Usually it implies a study on an electroencephalograph. The device allows you to track changes in brain activity, determine the nature of convulsive contractions.
Sometimes, during initial treatment, the doctor makes a diagnosis of epilepsy and prescribes appropriate treatment. If positive dynamics are not observed, and convulsions continue, a deeper examination is necessary.
First aid
Seizures in newborns, the causes of which were described just above, require a qualified approach to treatment. This is not a condition where a baby can be helped with a simple pill. If twitching occurs, immediately call a team of medical workers. Before the doctors arrive, the crumb should be put in a safe place and the body should be free of tight clothing. The child should try to turn it on its side so that in case of vomiting it does not choke. Between the gums you can put a clean handkerchief. It is not recommended to slow down the newborn and give him medications.
After an attack, the baby should be reassured, but be prepared for repeated seizures. It is important to pay attention to their duration, concomitant symptoms and intensity. This information will be useful for the medical team. If doctors offer hospitalization, you should not refuse it. In a hospital, it is easier to determine the cause of the disorder, as well as to choose the right treatment.
Therapy Features
To cure seizures in a newborn, the causes of the disorder must be established first. Usually, the fight against an ailment is reduced to observing the following rules:
- with hypocalcemia, a small patient is prescribed calcium gluconate in a glucose solution intravenously;
- in case of hypoglycemia, treatment is first carried out with the use of dextrose, and then intravenous administration of a glucose solution is recommended;
- with febrile convulsive conditions, the first thing that stops the fever.
With a long course of pathology, the child is observed in the intensive care unit. At the same time, medications made from barbituric acid (Phenobarbital, Phenytoin) are taken as the basis for treatment. They help to relax the central nervous system, reduce the intensity of muscle contraction. Gradually, the patient's condition returns to normal.
It should be noted that the treatment of this disorder should be comprehensive. Good results are provided by the baby's proper nutrition, gymnastic exercises, hardening through water procedures and relaxing massage. After the therapy, in the next few years, the child should be observed by a neurologist, periodically undergo preventive examinations.
In the neonatal period, it is very difficult to determine what may cause seizures in newborns. Reasons are not easy to spot. Therefore, about a third of the children die. Of course, we are talking about such serious defects as ischemia, meningitis and so on. If convulsive syndrome is caused by metabolic disorders, the prognosis in most cases is favorable. Also, approximately a third of surviving patients have various neurological impairments.
To summarize
The first manifestations of such a pathology as cramps in newborns should not be ignored. The consequences of this disorder can often overshadow the lives of children. It requires close attention from doctors and parents. It is extremely important to establish the cause of seizures in a timely manner and begin therapy. Only in this case can we hope for a favorable outcome.