Iron-deficiency anemia as a risk factor for the first simple febrile convulsion

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizure is the most common convulsive disorder in childhood. The role of iron in the metabolism of neurotransmitters and carrying oxygen to the brain suggests the possibility of a relationship between iron-deficiency anemia and febrile seizures. Objectives: The aim of study is to study the role of iron-deficiency anemia as a risk factor for febrile seizures. Materials and Methods: This is a hospital-based case–control study performed in 30 children with febrile seizures (case) and 80 febrile children without seizures (control) who were aged between 6 and 60 months. The groups were matched in terms of age, gender, and the use of supplemental iron. Laboratory tests consisted of complete blood count, serum iron, plasma ferritin were done for each patient. Results: Thirty-four percent of the cases with febrile seizure had iron-deficiency anemia compared with 20% of children with febrile illness without seizure and 12% of healthy children. The odds ratio for iron-deficiency anemia in the patients with febrile seizure was 3.059 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.969–9.657) compared with the febrile children without convulsion and 5.608 (95% CI = 1.834–17.146) compared with the healthy group. Conclusion: Based on the result of this study, iron deficiency could be an important risk factor for the development of febrile convulsion. This encourages the evaluation of iron status in children with febrile seizure.

Keywords

• convulsion
• iron-deficiency anemia
• risk factor