Study of iron deficiency as a risk factor for first episode of simple febrile siezure

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizure are seizure that occur between the age of 6 month to 60 months with a temperature of 100.4f or higher, that are not the result of central nervous system infection or any metabolic imbalance and that occur in the absence of a history of prior afebrile seizure. Febrile seizures are the commonest cause of seizures in children, occuring in 2-5% of children. The maximum age of febrile convulsion occurrence is 14-18 months, which overlap with the maximum prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia which is 1-2 year old. 7 So far, the dilemma of cause of febrile seizure could not be solved. Standard text book still mention iron deficiency is associated with an increased risk of febrile seizure, thus screening for that problem and treating it appears appropriate.Methods: This case control study was done from June 2015 to December 2016. 60 cases of first episode of simple febrile seizure in age group of 6 month to 5 years were included in the study. A control group was selected from age and sex matched children admitted with febrile illness but without seizure. In all cases detailed clinical history, anthropometry, clinical sign of iron deficiency, CNS examination, CBC, PBF, Red cell indices, serum iron, serum ferritin and serum TIBC level was done. These were analysed in three groups mild, moderate, severe deficiency of anemia. A clinical correlation is tried to establish between overt and subtle iron deficiency with seizure.Results: Majority of subjects with first episode of simple febrile seizure were males (63.3%). Majority of cases of febrile seizure occur in the 6-24 months age group (83.3%). Incidence of anemia among case group subjects was 90.0% whereas the same in control group was 30 %. Mean RDW and TIBC levels in cases were significantly higher as compared to that in controls. MCV, Mean Serum ferritin and Serum Iron levels in cases were significantly lower as compared to that in controls.Conclusions: The findings in present study established an association between iron deficiency anemia and first episode of simple febrile seizures.

Iron deficiency as risk factor for febrile convulsion and the association of iron deficiency anemia and febrile convulsion

“…12 Majority of the cases of febrile seizure are found to occur in age group 14-18 months which directly overlap with the age group of 6 months-24 months which have a maximum occurrence of ID anemia. 13,14 In view of high prevalence of ID in children <5 years of age in our country and conflicting results from the previous studies, we planned this research to study the role of ID as risk factor for febrile seizures in children. Therefore, the present study will help in reducing or preventing the occurrence of febrile seizures in community.…”