An infant's seizure can be terrifying to parents or caregivers. The neurons in a baby's brain during a seizure fire rapidly, causing convulsions, irritability, confusion and limb twitching. Sometimes the causes of infant seizures are temporary and harmless. Only a doctor can determine whether a seizure has a simple explanation or a more serious underlying cause.
Fever
High fever in an infant can cause a type of seizure called a febrile seizure. According to Baby Center, these seizures can occur between the ages of 6 months and 5 years and may last up to 15 minutes. Febrile seizures usually occur when an infant has a temperature higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, but febrile seizures at lower temperatures are possible, too. These seizures are the most common in childhood, with about 3 to 5 percent of children experiencing a febrile seizure before the age of 5. Most of the time, febrile seizures are harmless, and once they are finished, the child proceeds as normal without any further problems. The affected baby should see a pediatrician, however, just in case the seizure was a sign of an underlying disorder.
Head Trauma
If an infant incurs a head injury, attempts by the brain to repair itself may lead to seizures. Head trauma may occur during the birth process itself or afterward as a result of an accident or other injury. An infant with seizures caused by head trauma may require magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, a scan that examines the brain, to determine the exact location of injury.
Infection
Infection in the brain may cause seizures in infants. Meningitis, an infection and inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain, is a potentially serious cause of seizures. An infection of the brain itself, called encephalitis, may also lead to seizures. These infections may result from viruses or bacteria and can be extremely dangerous in a baby.
Epilepsy
According to Dr. Alan Greene, between 0.4 and 1 percent of people have epilepsy, recurrent seizures not linked to fever or head injuries. Both abnormalities in brain structure and genetic disorders can cause epilepsy. In other cases, infants with epilepsy may have a metabolic or chemical imbalance that contributes to the development of seizures. A pediatric neurologist can perform blood tests and scans such as an MRI to look at the brain structure of a baby with recurrent seizures and determine whether the seizures have an identifiable cause.
Other Causes
Abnormal blood sugar levels may occasionally cause seizures in infants. Drugs or toxins in the blood can also lead to infant seizures. A baby with abnormal blood levels of certain vitamins or minerals including sodium, calcium, magnesium or vitamin B6 may seize. Rarely, seizures may be a sign of a brain tumor.
