Iron Deficiency as a Risk Factor for Febrile Seizures – A Case Control Study

Febrile seizure (FS) is a common cause of seizure in young children and occurring in 3-4% children under 5 years of age. Iron deficiency is reported as commonest micro-nutritional deficiency worldwide and has been associated with febrile seizures. The aim is to evaluate role of Iron deficiency as a risk factor of febrile seizure. A total of 170 children (6m – 5 years) were included in the study. 70 cases had febrile seizure as defined by International League Against Epilepsy and rest 100 controls had short history of febrile illness (< 3 days) without seizures. Anemia was defined as decrease of the Hb <11gm%, and serum ferritin <12ng/ml. Discrete variables are expressed as counts (%) and compared using the Chi-square tests, Adjusted odds ratios and Statistical significance is set at p < 0.05. In the present study, 34.3% cases belong to 6-16 months age group and male to female ratio in cases was 1.69:1. 65.7% of cases and 45% of controls were iron deficient. On correlating iron deficiency with gender, male preponderance was observed in children with febrile seizure. The study observed 65.7% cases of FS had iron deficiency as compared to 45% of control group. (OR-2.34; p