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Seizures in infants can be caused by a variety of circumstances, including a lack of oxygen, stress during delivery and brain damage. Seizures are often difficult to diagnose in infants due to their characteristics being similar to typical newborns' behavior.
Febrile Seizures
According to the BC Epilepsy Society in Canada, "approximately one in 20 children will have a febrile seizure." Febrile seizures generally stop after a period of time and do not indicate that the child will be epileptic.
Delivery Complications
Infant seizures within the first two days of life are often caused by the resulting stress of delivery, minor chemical imbalances of a developing body or infections. Infants can also exhibit seizures if they have undergone brain damage.
Hereditary Disorder
An infant who experiences several seizures during the first few days of life might have a rare disorder called "benign familial neonatal convulsions." This disorder is genetic and seizures will dissipate after nine months.
Vitamin B6 Deficiency
Rarely, an infant's lack of vitamin B6--pyridoxine--can provoke seizures. This is diagnosed by watching for improvements after administering B6 and is treatable.
Epilepsy
Epileptic infants will usually exhibit seizures with identical reactions when awake and asleep, which are not a product of a position or activity change.
Hypoxia
Infants can suffer a lack of oxygen called "hypoxia" and undergo a seizure.
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