An important thing to do if an infant has a seizure is to remain calm. By remaining calm, you may have a better chance of handling your child while they are having a seizure. This can help prevent them from sustaining additional injuries during their episodes.
Infant seizure symptoms may include staring, smacking their lips, pedaling-like movement, protruding tongue, roving eyes, and other mild symptoms. Do not try to force your child to stop moving. If your baby drools while they are having a seizure, you may want to lay them on their side so that they do not choke on their own spit.
If you believe your child is in danger or may need medical attention at any point, call 911. Otherwise, stay by them closely and monitor your child during their seizure. Take note of the signs your infant is displaying while having a seizure. This may include muscle stiffness, thrashing, rapid eyelid movement, etc. Time the length of the episode and intervals in which they are happening.
If this is your child’s first seizure, relay this information to your child’s pediatrician as soon as possible. Discuss your concerns and the following steps you need to take, which may be diagnosing the underlying problem.
Diagnosing Seizures in a Newborn
Your doctor may first take a look at your family’s medical history and then perform a physical exam. Your pediatrician then may request diagnostic testing to further investigate the underlying issue.
Testing that may be performed on your child to establish a diagnosis may include:
- Laboratory tests
- Brain Imaging
- Spinal tap
- Blood tests
Taking action early in figuring out why your child is having seizures is key. By waiting, an underlying condition may worsen or create serious permanent complications. Once a diagnosis is made, you can start your baby on a treatment plan.
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Treatment Available to Help Newborn Seizures
Treating your infant’s seizures depends on the reason why they are having them. If your doctor cannot give you a specific diagnosis, deciding on a treatment plan may be difficult. In this case, antiseizure medications may be the only solution until a clear diagnosis can be made.
Other treatments may be available, which can include:
- Ketogenic diet
- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Surgery
Discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understand the pros and cons, costs, and the process for which it will be administered or conducted.
Underlying Causes of Seizure
Seizures may be due to underlying brain damage. This can include cerebral palsy, anoxia, and other conditions. If a doctor diagnoses your child with a condition that produces seizures, you may want to investigate your treatment history to see if the condition was the result of medical malpractice.
Cerebral palsy, for example, can occur naturally due to genetic causes or premature birth. However, it can also be caused by acts of doctor negligence, such as:
- Failing to detect and treat an infection in the pregnant mother
- Not screening and taking precautions for a difficult birth process
- Allowing the baby’s oxygen supply to be cut off
- Injuring the baby’s head with excessive force during delivery
If doctor negligence caused your child’s birth injury, the doctor or hospital may be liable for your damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
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What to Do if an Infant Has a Seizure Because of a Birth Injury
If you believe there was a preventable pregnancy complication or birth injury that has caused your newborn to have seizures, you may be able to receive compensation for your family’s current and future medical bills, lost wages, and more.
The Birth Injury Lawyers Group helps families nationwide in medical malpractice lawsuits. We may be able to pursue compensation on your behalf and handle all communications, deadlines, and paperwork in your case when we represent you. When necessary, we can hire medical experts to testify in your defense that they believe your child was the victim of malpractice.
To get help on your case and learn more about your options in a free consultation with a member of our team, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529. We take many cases on a contingency-fee basis where our clients do not pay us attorney fees unless and until they recover compensation via a settlement offer or court award.
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