Convulsive disorders in neonates as seen at Muhimbili Medical Centre

The general objective of this study was to study the clinical pattern of seizures in the neonate with the following specific objectives: (i) To determine the incidence of different types of seizures in Dar es Salaam. (ii) To determine the different actiological factors in neonatal seizures. (iii) To delineate prognostic indicators in neonatal seizures. This study was done between July 1987 to December 1987 on 50 neonates with seizures in Ward 36 of Muhimbili Medical Centre. More than half of the neonates under study came from the labour ward of Muhimbili Medical Centre and the rest from the labour wards of peripheral, Temeke, and Agakhan. Perinatal, natal and pastnatal history was obtained from the mother. Those neonates who developed seizures which were observed by the author comprised the study population.