Association between iron deficiency anemia and first febrile convulsion: A case–control study

OBJECTIVE The relationship between iron deficiency anemia and febrile convulsions has been examined in several studies with conflicting results. The authors aimed to evaluate the relation, if any, of iron status with first febrile convulsion. METHODS In this case-control study, the authors assessed 200 children with a diagnosis of first febrile convulsion, aged between 6 months and 5 years, during March 2005 to September 2006. The control group consisted of febrile children without convulsion; controls were matched to the cases by gender and age. RESULTS The patients and controls were 22.86+/-12.86 and 21.91+/-13.58 months of mean age, respectively. The amount of RBC, serum iron, and plasma ferritin were significantly higher, and TIBC was significantly lower among the cases with first febrile convulsions than in the controls. The amount of Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were also higher among cases than controls, but differences were not statistically significant. Iron deficiency anemia was less frequent among the cases with febrile convulsion, as compared to the controls, and its difference was not statistically significant; but there is not a protective effect of iron deficiency against development of febrile convulsion (odd ratio=1.175). The mean of temperature peak on admission was significantly higher in the febrile convulsion group (38.74+/-0.76 degrees C) compared with the controls (38.2+/-0.67 degrees C) (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that iron deficiency anemia was less frequent among the cases with febrile convulsion, as compared to the controls, and there is not a protective effect of iron deficiency against febrile convulsions.