The seizures experienced by infants are very different from those affecting older children. Seizures occur during the first four weeks in full-term infants, also referred to as the neonatal period. The cause of seizures in infants occur because of many factors though there is detectable cause in most children. Seizures have negative long-term impacts on children, such as developmental and cognitive impairments. The aim of this literature review is to highlight the causes of seizures in children. The scholarly article used in the literature review will be accessed from various journal sites such as PubMed, BMC, Google Scholar and EBSCO.
Carmelo et al. (2019) reviewed the literature to ascertain the cause of epilepsy in children. One of the major causes of epilepsy in children is seizures. The author also focused on the various risk factors that cause seizures in young children. According to the authors, the key risk factors of seizures in children include alcohol abuse and cigarette smoking during the pregnancy period, brain disorders during the brain development period of the infant and premature birth. The following article is credible, as other articles in PubMed Central journal have cited it. The information in the article is also credible and reliable as there are numerous citations and references.
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Huijie et al. (2017) carried out a federally funded study to ascertain the impact of a malfunctioning gene that leads to involuntary movement and seizures in infants as early as a few days old. According to the researchers, they found out that GNAO1 (G-Protein Subunit Alpha O1) leads to EIEE17 a particular type of epilepsy, which leads to involuntary movements such as NEDIM. The researchers found out that children who suffer from GNAO1 mutations account go a day without convulsions, seizures and involuntary body movements. The GNAO1 gene is responsible for carrying signals inside the nerve cells from the outside, and thus some of the signals are very strong thus leading to on controllable body movements. The following source is credible as the government-funded the research. In addition, the language used in the article is not inflammatory and not biased.
Anderson et al. (2013) carried out a study to determine the impact of thyroid dysfunctions in a mother and seizures in infants. The researchers hypothesized that there is an increased risk of seizures in children in mothers who suffer from thyroid dysfunction. The researchers used a population-based cohort study. The study was carried out between January 1, 1978, and November 30, 2006. The researchers found out that maternal thyroid hormones are vital for a fetus’s brain development. Thyroid dysfunctions affect cerebral cortex development, and this brings about seizures in infants. The article is credible and reliable as the authors work in the department of endocrinology and epidemiology an indication they are qualified to carry out the study.
Michoulas &Farrell (2011) carried out a study to ascertain the cause of afebrile seizures in children. The researchers found out that that there are three types of idiopathic epilepsies juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, benign rolandic epilepsy and absence epilepsy. However, children who suffer from idiopathic epileptic seizures can have normal neurological development. However, the researchers found out that infants who suffer from idiopathic epilepsy seizures have an epileptic form discharge on electroencephalography. Similarly, the researchers found out that more than half of infants with epilepsy have some form of brain abnormality. The information in the article is credible as the researchers are graduates in Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. It is an indication the authors are qualified in this field.
Stafstrom & Carmant (2015) carried out a literature review on epilepsy and seizures causes carried out by various neuroscientists. The researchers found out that once there is misbalance between the excitation (E) and inhibition (I) in the brain, seizures are bound to occur. The E/I imbalances are caused by various brain function alterations ranging from neuronal circuits, genes and cascades in the subcellular signaling. The article is credible and reliable, as the authors have provided numerous citations and references. The information provided is also not based on the author’s points of view but rather researched information by people who are experts in the field.
Macleod & Appleton (2007) carried out a literature review on the cause of various neurological disorders in adolescents. The authors found out that neurodegenerative disorders are the major causes of seizures in adolescents and thus mostly begins during their infant years. Infants diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy have a higher probability of suffering from seizures in their adolescent life. Disorders of the brain’s grey matter cab also lead to the development of seizures. The information from the sources credible as the article is peer-reviewed and published in a reputable journal site.
According to the literature review, it is evident that many factors led to seizures in infants. The articles used in the literature review are all credible, as they have been published in reputable journal sites. The authors of the articles have also qualified to write articles as others are professionals in the medical field.
References
Andersen, S. L., Laurberg, P., Wu, C. S., & Olsen, J. (2013). Maternal thyroid dysfunction and risk of seizure in the child: a Danish nationwide cohort study. Journal of pregnancy , 2013 .
Feng, H., Sjögren, B., Karaj, B., Shaw, V., Gezer, A., & Neubig, R. R. (2017). Movement disorder in GNAO1 encephalopathy associated with gain-of-function mutations. Neurology , 89 (8), 762-770.
Macleod, S., & Appleton, R. E. (2007). Neurological disorders presenting mainly in adolescence. Archives of disease in childhood , 92 (2), 170-175.
Michoulas, A., Farrell, K., & Connolly, M. (2011). Approach to a child with a first afebrile seizure. BCMJ , 53 , 274-7.
Minardi, C., Minacapelli, R., Valastro, P., Vasile, F., Pitino, S., Pavone, P., & Murabito, P. (2019). Epilepsy in children: from diagnosis to treatment with a focus on emergency. Journal of clinical medicine , 8 (1), 39.
Stafstrom, C. E., & Carmant, L. (2015). Seizures and epilepsy: an overview of neuroscientists. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine , 5 (6), a022426.
