The Efficacy of Zinc Sulfate in Prevention of Febrile Convulsion Recurrences

Abstract

Background: Seizure is accompany with neurons function disorder and abnormal electrical action. However, febrile convulsion seizure is usually benign and causes no important problem for patients; but all children with febrile convulsion are usually faced with behavior disorders. In these patients, prophylaxis and anti-convulsion drugs are used. This study aimed to survey the efficacy of zinc sulfate in prevention of febrile convulsion recurrences. Methods: In this clinical trial study, 80 children the same in age and gender, after passing inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided in two equal groups: drugs and placebo. We got blood samples of both groups and checked serum zinc level after release, prescribed zinc syrup for case and placebo for control group. After a year, we measured serum zinc level in patients and finally we analyzed the data. Findings: In case group, 27 (67.5%) and in control 24 (60%) children were boys. The mean age was 28.90 ± 16.19 and 27.65 ± 13.47 months in case and control groups, respectively (P = 0.709). The mean zinc level was 75.36 ± 8.12 and 73.21 ± 7.32 µg/dl in case and control groups, respectively. In case group, 7 patients and in control group, 10 had seizure recurrences in a year (P = 0.412). There was no relationship between recurrences and age or gender; but the first and the last measured level of zinc and the amount of increase of zinc level in children with recurrence were significantly less than the children without it. Conclusion: In current study, we observed that zinc sulfate syrup could not decrease the seizure recurrences related to insufficient serum zinc level, probably because of incorrect drug using or secondary decrease of serum zinc level in these children.

Keywords

• Zinc sulfate
• Prevention
• Febrile convulsion
• Recurrences