The Relationship between Iron deficiency anemia and Febrile Convulsions in infant and Children

Shaaib, Fatima; Esh, Asmaa; Azab, Seham Fathy; Hafez, Sahbaa

doi:10.21608/zumj.2020.21787.1669

The Relationship between Iron deficiency anemia and Febrile Convulsions in infant and Children

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ M.B; B.CH.; Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Libya

² Professor of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Zagazig University

³ Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Zagazig University

⁴ Lecturer of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Zagazig University

10.21608/zumj.2020.21787.1669

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizures (FS) are the single most common seizure type and occur in 2 to 5% of children younger than age 5 years with a peak incidence in the second year of life. Evidence that iron might be important for neurological functioning has generated considerable optimism that this element might also play a role in initiation of febrile convulsions. This study aimed to determine the relation between iron deficiency anemia and febrile seizures in infant and children aged 6 months to 6 years. Methods: A case-control study was done in Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University during the period from September 2018 to March 2019. It included 90 infants and children (45 infant and children presented with febrile convulsions and 45 age and sex matched healthy infants and children between 6 months and 6 years as a control group). All children with febrile convulsion were investigated for iron deficiency to find if there is any association between Anemia and febrile convulsion. Results: The current study showed that cases were significantly higher regarding Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC) than control group with no significant difference between groups regarding ferritin or iron. But, cases were significantly lower regarding Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Hemoglobin (Hb). Therefore, cases were significantly associated with anemia. Conclusion: the study concluded that iron deficiency anemia is a risk factor for febrile seizures in infants and children aged 6 months to 6 years.

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