Seizures in infants have causes that range from minor to serious. A seizure is a condition that occurs when brain activity occurs too quickly and the information that the brain transmits contradicts itself. The symptoms of a seizure include stiffening of the body, jerking movements of the arms and legs, breathing problems, confusion and loss of consciousness. A baby's pediatrician can help parents treat, diagnose and determine the cause of his seizures.
Fever
Fever in infants is one of the most common causes of seizures, according to the website Nervous System Diseases. These seizures are referred to a febrile seizures and are the result of an infant's temperature being elevated owing to an illness, such as the flu. Febrile seizures are generally harmless and do not indicate the presence of a serious seizure disorder.
Brain Malformation
Problems that occur in an infant's brain when she is still gestating can result in seizures after birth. According to Nervous System Diseases, some of these conditions are inherited, whereas others are spontaneous disruptions in genetic material. These types of seizures begin occurring soon after birth, and treatment involves addressing the cause as well as the seizures themselves. The presence of a brain tumor also has the potential to cause seizures in an infant.
Infection
An infection in the brain, such as meningitis, can cause seizures in infants. Sometimes these seizures disappear once the infection has been treated and resolves. In some instances, an infection can lead to long-term epileptic symptoms.
Concussion
According to Dr. Alan Greene, concussions are usually mild and aren't cause for alarm. A concussion that produces seizures could indicate a larger problem, however, and should be treated right away by an infant's pediatrician. A concussion is generally the result of a bump to the head, especially when infants become more mobile.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy refers to a condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Greene states that epilepsy causes seizures that aren't the result of a fever or head trauma. Epilepsy disrupts the normal brain activity of an infant and results in the crossed signals that bring on a seizure. Treatment for this condition includes medication, diet changes and surgery, according to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.
