Iron Deficiency as a Risk Factor for Simple Febrile Seizures

Objectives: To determine the association between iron status and febrile seizure. Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted among 120 children of age group 6 months to 3 years and hospitalized for the first episode of Febrile Seizures (FS). The case group was compared to a group of 80 ageand sexmatched controls admitted with the same diagnosis of infection but without seizure. The control and case groups were matched based on family history of FS, age, sex and temperature. Venous blood samples were examined for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum iron, serum ferritin, total iron-binding capacity and complete blood count (CBC). The CBC included measurements of red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), WBC, and platelets. Results: Non significant differences between the cases and the control group in terms of age, temperature, sex, ESR, WBC, RBC, MCV, MCHC and platelets. The mean Hb, HCT, serum ferritin, serum iron, and MCH were significantly low in children with first febrile seizures as compared to controls. Conclusions: Low levels of serum ferritin and iron might play a role in the pathogenesis of simple febrile seizure.