Publication:

Is vitamin D deficiency a risk factor in the occurrence and recurrence of febrile convulsions in children?

Background Febrile seizure (FS) is the commonest childhood seizure. Our aim was to evaluate low Serum 25(OH) vitamin D level (vitamin D) as a risk factor for FS and whether vitamin D supplementation reduces its recurrence.

Methods A prospective cohort of children aged 6-60 months with FS (cases) and children with fever ≤3 days without seizures (controls) were recruited over a 2-year period. Vitamin D level was measured; those with low levels ( 20 ng/ml).

Conclusions There was no difference in mean vitamin D levels between cases and controls. However, there was significantly lower seizure recurrence in children who had low vitamin D level at presentation and had received vitamin D therapy. We postulate that treatment with vitamin D may reduce risk of FS recurrence even in those with serum vitamin D level in the “sufficient” range as per the recommended guidelines. Larger RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.