Iron and zinc deficiency in children with febrile convulsions aged 6‒60 months ‒ A 1-year hospital-based case‒control study

Context: Febrile seizures are one of the most common seizures in childhood. Febrile seizures occur in 2%–5% of children who are younger than 5 years of age. Studies have shown that iron, zinc, selenium, copper, and magnesium play a significant role in febrile seizures. This study was intended to study the relationship between iron and zinc deficiency with febrile seizures. Aim: To find the association of febrile convulsions with iron and zinc deficiency. Methodology: This hospital-based case‒control study was done in a tertiary care center in North Karnataka from January 2017 to December 2017. A total of 52 children fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in case group. Control group contained 52 children who had fever without convulsions and matched for age, sex, and background disease with respective cases. Results: Both the groups were matched for age and gender. Majority of the children (76.92%) had a simple seizure. Cases had lower serum (Sr.) ferritin levels compared to controls with high odds ratio (OR) (25% vs. 1.92%; P < 0.001; OR = 17.00; P = 0.0075). Furthermore, cases had zinc deficiency compared to controls (84.62% vs. 25%; OR = 12.269; P < 0.001). The mean Sr. zinc levels (37.16 ± 22.07 vs. 75.75 ± 15.25 μg/dL; P < 0.001) were significantly low in cases. Conclusion and Interpretation: There was a significant association between febrile seizures with iron and zinc deficiency.