What Types of Bacteria Could Cause a Seizure in a Toddler?

Abnormal functioning of the brain results in seizures. They occur for a host of reasons in toddlers, from bacterial-based infections, like meningitis, to viruses, cerebral palsy and head injury. However, seizures are most frequently brought on by fever--these are known as febrile seizures and are the least harmful. Up to 5 percent of children have a febrile seizure during childhood, reports eMedicineHealth. Bacterial infection related to seizure is rare. Viruses are more often the culprits. But the bacteria that causes meningitis is one of the highest profile bacterial causes of seizure in toddlers and adults alike.

Meningitis

• Meningitis, caused by both viruses and bacteria (though rarely), is a disease that results in inflammation of the spinal cord and the membranes that surround the brain. Any inflammation of brain tissue is considered serious, although viral meningitis is highly treatable. The bacterial version of the disease progresses swiftly and is considered far more dangerous. Different bacteria targets different age groups. The meningococcal bacteria toddlers and older children contract tends to be Neisseria meningitidis, or meningococcus; Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus; and Haemophilus influenzae type b, or H. influenzae.

Bacterial Meningitis

• The bacteria in bacterial meningitis tends to get its start elsewhere in the body, such as the nose or ear, before traveling to the brain. Symptoms parents are likely to see include very high fever (up to 106 degrees), stiff neck, confusion, vomiting and loss of appetite. Brain damage can occur, followed by coma and death, if treatment isn't swift. Survivors are sometimes confronted with long-term problems, such as seizures, mental retardation, paralysis and loss of hearing.

  When seizures occur, however, they tend to be connected to the symptomatology of the illness; that is, they subside once the illness is brought under control. Antibiotics followed by steroids is the main treatment of choice for bacterial meningitis. The antibiotics kill and break up the bacteria, and the steroids reduce brain inflammation as well as inflammation caused by the fragments of dead bacteria circulating in the body.

Seizures in Bacterial Meningitis

• Roughly 25 percent of meningitis patients experience seizures, but the seizures tend to be brief and relegated to early illness, according to Dr. Lise Nigrovic, attending physician in pediatric emergency medicine at Children's Hospital Boston. Seizures occur early on, from brain swelling and pressure. As the infection proceeds, a kind of seizure called a focal seizure can occur. This type involves a single limb or body part. Later seizures can be an indication of poor outcomes, such as disability or even death, says Nigrovic. Seizures can also be caused by a plummeting blood-sodium level when body fluids are not effectively eliminated. Toddlers with high fevers are particularly susceptible to meningitis-related febrile seizures, reports Nigrovic. These seizures involve the entire body, causing significant convulsions. However, they tend to last only a few seconds, end on their own and cause no additional health problems.

  There are measures doctors can take to decrease the likelihood of seizure in bacterial meningitis. The proper administration of fluids is a key component. Corticosteroids can be given to reduce brain swelling, and although their use in children remains controversial, doctors use them nevertheless. A calm and soothing environment is recommended. And in the case of high seizure potential, anticonvulsants can be administered.