Serum Zinc and Magnesium Levels in Children with Febrile Seizure: A Hospital Based Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Febrile Seizure (FS) is one of the most common forms of seizures in children. Precise aetiology of FS is still not known. Studies have shown that micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, iron, selenium, and copper are highly effective in preventing FS. Aim: To assess serum zinc and magnesium levels in children with FS and to compare them with that of febrile children without seizure, in order to find out whether serum zinc and magnesium levels have any relationship with occurrence of FS. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based comparative cross-sectional study done in the Paediatrics department of Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam (India). One hundred and thirty children between 6-60 months, with first episode of FS, admitted in the department of paediatrics from June 2016 to May 2017 were taken as cases and 130 age and sex matched febrile children without seizure were taken as controls. After recording history, examination findings and investigations on pre-designed proforma, serum zinc and magnesium levels were estimated using colorimetric and modified methylthymol blue method respectively and comparison was made between cases and controls, and also among simple and complex FS. Data were analysed by Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) program version 16.0 and p<0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Mean serum zinc levels in cases and controls were (79.68±21.7 μg/dL) and (120.93±29.00 μg/dL), respectively. Hypozincaemia was present in 14 (10.77%) cases and 1 (0.77%) control (p<0.001). Mean serum magnesium levels in cases and controls were 2.02±0.21 mg/dL) and (2.22±0.22 mg/dL), respectively. Hypomagnesemia was present in 8 (6.15%) cases while none of the controls had hypomagnesemia (p=0.006). Mean serum zinc levels in cases with simple and complex FS were (85.55±24.13 μg/dL) and (71.92±14.97 μg/ dL), respectively (p<0.001). Mean serum magnesium levels in simple and complex FS were (2.11±0.21 mg/dL) and (1.90±0.14 mg/dL), respectively (p