Publication:

Iron deficiency anaemia and its association with febrile seizures

Background As reported by World Health Organization of total world’s population about 500 million to 2 billion people are deficient in iron. Iron deficiency is the most common hematological disease found in age group 6 months to 5 years. This age group generally coincides with the age group of occurrences of febrile seizures. Aim of this study was to study the role of iron deficiency in febrile seizures.

Methods This cross sectional, observational study done in the Pediatrics department of D. Y. Patil Hospital and Research Centre. 170 children of age group between 6months to 5 years will be included in the study over a period of 24 months from May 2015 to May 2017, Presenting with simple and complex febrile seizures to the emergency department and Pediatrics ward of hospital.

Results In the study the mean age of onset of febrile seizures is 21 months. Severity of anemia doesn’t have any correlation with occurrence of febrile seizures. Iron deficient in terms of low HB, low MCH, low MCV, high RDW, low serum Iron, high TIBC and low serum iron and TIBC ratio.

Conclusions From the current hospital based observational study we have concluded that, iron deficiency anemia was more frequent among children with febrile seizures. The result suggests that iron deficiency anemia may be a risk factor for febrile seizures screening for IDA should be considered in children with febrile seizures. All the investigations (Sr Iron, TIBC) carried out to evaluate iron deficiency anemia were significantly lower. This suggests that iron deficient children are more prone for febrile seizures.