Neonatal polycythemia causing multiple cerebral infarcts.

A child had neonatal polycythemia, severe seizures beginning at 6 weeks of age, and a computerized tomography scan showing multiple cerebral infarcts. Follow-up showed substantial developmental delay with spastic quadriplegia. This case illustrates that neonatal polycythemia is a rare but preventable cause of multiple cerebral infarctions, subsequent seizures, and developmental delay.