“Study of Iron Status in Children Presenting with Febrile Seizures”

Abstract

Febrile seizures are seizures which occur during a temperature spike of 38 degrees Celsius or higher in children
between the age group of 6 months to 5 years, without a previous history of afebrile seizures, in the absence of CNS infection or
metabolic disturbances. 1 in 20 children are attending paediatric emergency wards due to febrile seizures on average in India. Iron
deficiency is one of the causes of febrile convulsions as it decreases the seizure threshold. Low serum levels of ferritin may reduce
the levels of monoamines, cytochrome C oxidase and aldehyde oxidases, so iron deficiency may reduce seizure threshold and
affect myelination. Iron deficiency in children between 2-3 years of life leads to developmental delay and behavioural impairment.
The aim of the study is to assess the association between iron levels and febrile seizures among children. It is a case-control study
done on 100 children in the Department of Paediatrics, Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada. Results showed no statistical
association between febrile seizures and age, gender, and family history of epilepsy. The association was seen between febrile
seizures and haemoglobin (HB), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and serum ferritin.
Children between the ages of 13 and 24 months experienced the greatest number of febrile seizures. Compared to controls,
children with febrile seizures had significantly lower levels of mean Hb, MCH, MCV, and serum ferritin levels. Children with febrile
seizures were more likely to have iron deficiency than controls. There was no significant difference in mean MCV, MCH and serum
ferritin levels among children with simple seizures and complex seizures.