Development of Febrile Seizures in Children with Iron Deficiency Anemia

Abstract

A febrile seizure is a seizure that occurs in children with a temperature of 38 ºC or more, common in pediatric patients between the ages of 6 to 60 months without intracranial infections, metabolic disorder, or a history of seizures without fever. In 50% of children the first febrile seizure occurs at 2 years and in 90% before 3 years, anemia is also a frequent pathology in pediatric patients, in fact, the figures of the World Health Organization (WHO), point out that iron deficiency anemia attacks children under five years of age, occurring worldwide around 799 million, an average, in the last 10 years, of 42%. And in Latin America, the figure is 23%. Iron deficiency anemia can predispose to the development of febrile seizures because iron plays a crucial role in the transport of oxygen to all tissues, its deficiency also produces a dysfunction of myelination, tyrosine, and tryptophan synthesis hydroxylase, which are necessary for the release of neurotransmitters, therefore, if said neurotransmitters are not released, the brain synapse can be altered and lead to a seizure. Therefore, it is important and relevant to recognize these concepts and the intimate relationship between them, in addition to the risk factors that can trigger them, in order to promote the reduction of the risk of presenting these diseases in vulnerable groups such as pediatric patients.