SERUM ZINC LEVELS IN CHILDREN WITH SIMPLE AND COMPLEX FEBRILE SEIZURES

Objective: To determine the frequency of serum zinc levels in children with simple and complex febrile seizures. Patients and Methods: The cross study of one year was conducted at private hospital on children of aged 6 months to 6 years, either gender with simple as well as complex febrile seizures. Three milliliters of whole blood was collected under strict aseptic precautions and sent to biochemistry laboratory for assessment of serum zinc levels (the normal serum zinc level was 70 – 125 µg/dL while the frequency / percentages (%) and means ±SD computed for study variables. Results: During one year study period total fifty children of simple and complex febrile seizures were explored for zinc status. The frequency for male and female population was 30 (60%) and 20 (40%) with mean ± SD for age of male and female individuals was 2.92±1.52 and 2.21±1.93 whereas the mean ±sd for fever in overall population was 101.52±2.21 respectively. regarding the gender distribution male 30 (60%), female 20 (40%), type of febrile seizure as simple 27 (54%), complex 23 (46%), and hypozincemia was detected in 31 (62%). Conclusion: Serum zinc levels were found to be lower in simple febrile convulsions than complex febrile convulsions. Keywords: Zinc, Simple febrile and complex febrile