Association Between Iron Deficiency Anemia and First Episode of Febrile Seizures in Children Aged 6-59 Months

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizures are one of the most common types of seizure in children, affecting 2% to 5% of all neurologically healthy infants and children. Since fever can exacerbate the symptoms resulting from anemia, relationship between iron deficiency anemia and febrile seizure can be the main cause.
 Objective: To determine the relationship between 1st episode of febrile seizures in iron deficient children aged from six months to five years.
 Methods: This case control study was performed in Pediatrics department of King Edward Medical College in the duration of six months from January 2014 to June 2014. Two hundred and fifty patients of either sex, aged between 6-60 months, with first episode of febrile seizures were enrolled by non-probability convenient sampling. After obtaining demographic and clinical data, 125 children served as cases (Fever with seizures) while 125 children served as control (Fever with seizures). Hb, MCV, and MCHC, serum ferritin level of both cases and control was determined. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20. Odds ratio was found to find out the significant association between iron deficiency anemia and seizures episode in both groups. An odds ratio >1 was considered as significant.
 Results: Iron deficiency anemia was present in 80(32%). Out of 125(50%), 34(27%) cases and 46(36.8%) controls have normal iron levels. There were 91(72.8%) of cases and 79(63.2%) of control who had low levels of iron in blood. The odds-ratio came out to be 1.55.
 Conclusion: Considerable association was found of febrile convulsions in iron deficient growing age children. This predicts anemia as an important predictor of fever fit.