Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in children with febrile seizure.

BACKGROUND: Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common childhood seizures which occur in 2-5% of children. Studies about association between iron deficiency and febrile seizure have shown contradictory results. The purpose of this study was to compare the iron status of children with first febrile seizure and healthy control group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an analytic case-control study , iron status of 6 to 60 months old admitted children with first FS to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital from December 2011 to August 2012 was evaluated and compared with healthy age and sex matched control children whom were referred for routine health care to primary health care center of Azadshar Yazd, Iran.

RESULTS: Forty five (44%) girls and 55 boys with a mean age of 23.7 ± 14.3 months were evaluated. In children with FS , hemoglobin level (11.46 ± 1.18 g/dl vs. 11.9 ± 0.89 g/dl, p= 0.042) , serum iron levels (48.91 ± 22.96 μg/dl vs. 75.13 ± 35.57 μg/dl , p= 0.001) and serum ferritin level (38.52 ± 11.38 ng/ml vs. 54.32 ± 13.46 ng/ml, p= 0.001) were lower than in healthy children group . Iron deficiency (48% vs. 28% , odds ratio 4.3, p=0.03) and iron deficiency anemia (22% vs. 10% , odds ratio = 3.16, p= 0.04) were more frequent in children with FS.

CONCLUSION: Based on the result of this study, iron deficiency could be an important risk factor for development of febrile convulsion. Evaluation of iron status is encouraged to be performed in children with febrile seizure.