Infant Siezures Infection or Injury

[gammy]

I am heartsick.  My 2 month old great-grand-daughter was hospitalized Fiday night with seizures and and breathing problems.  So far Doctors have found a slight fever, mild urninary infection.  Spinal tap indicates high white count and proteins.  EEG indicated activity lower on the right hemisphere.  There is a possiblity that she suffered accidental head trauma on Tuesday, although there was no corresponding bump or behavioural indications following this incident. She also got her well-baby-shots on Thursday. Sunday night she was having seizures every time she opened her eyes. A MRI is scheduled Monday AM.  The Docs are working heard on "putting the pieces of the puzzle together" but the are not making and public speculations.  I am not by an means trying to outguess them, but perhaps I could handle my own emotions better if I knew more.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Sorry to hear about your great granddaughter.  It's always tough to see children in pain or seriously ill, especially the ones that are close to us.  As I have never personally seen her nor have I reviewed her full history and diagnostic workup in detail, it's impossible to come up with a diagnosis or care plan based on the very brief and patchy info provided. (I know you're doing your best with the limited info that you've been given.) But what it sounds like is that there's some sort of infection going on that may have meningitis (infection of the tissues covering the brain) or encephalitis (actual infection of the brain) as part of it from the elevated white cells in the spinal fluid.  Meningitis and encephalitis can certainly cause seizures in themselves.  If they are able to isolate a bacterial cause and treat with appropriate antibiotics, then she will probably start to feel better and hopefully the seizures will stop. If it's a viral infection, then there aren't any antibiotics really, but she may feel better with fluid and electrolyte replacement as well as seizure control with medications.

With the possiblity of head trauma, I'm sure the doctors have already done some sort of head scan like a CT to make sure there isn't any collection of blood in the brain or skull fracture.  With the fever, elevated white cells in the spinal fluid, and difficulty breathing, a systemic infection with spread to the nervous system is more likely than trauma ot be causing her problems. But again, keep in mind I have never seen her personally and cannot give an accurate medical opinion.


Hang in there.  The best thing that you can do at this point is to keep her in your thoughts and prayers and remain as supportive as you can for her and her family.  Best wishes.

[gammy]

Bless your heart Dr. CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT.  What a tender bedside mannor you have.  This exactly the diagnosis that came in just 30 min ago.  I have not been told yet whether in infection is bacterial or viral.  It does sound they are expecting to send her parents to infant-cpr training and then send her home.  I don't think there's a time yet, but I think having a diagnosis is a good thing.  

This is a wonderful site!  Contribution on the way!

  I had already read up on Meningitis thru the guidence on this site.  I am comforted to know that a head injury is unlikely.  How could we possilby forseen/prevented or reacted sooner to this?

Thanks again.
Gammy

[wendystation]

I invite you to learn more about encephalitis, from the people it has touched.  Encephalitis Global ( www.encephalitisglobal.com ) welcomes survivors, caregivers and loved ones... as well as folks who wish to learn more about all types of encephalitis.

Wendy
encephalitis survivor/website creator

Encephalitis Global
www.encephalitisglobal.com

[gammy]

Situation looking up!  Meningitus appears to be viral in order. Although still in ICU, Baby is making eye contact and even trying to smile.  Removal of air tube scheduled for today.

[gammy]

Baby appears to have fully recovered with personality intact.  Seems to be at least at age level in her mental development.  She is off the chart in height and weight!  She was released from hospital after about 2 weeks.  She was sent home with phenobarbitol and a SIDS monitor and has experienced no further problems.  Doctors dissagreed as to whether her meningitus was bacterial or viral in nature.  Her MRIs were all good, and her EKGs returned to normal.  She will continue on phenobarbitol for at least 6 months.