Haresh Kumar, Vikashlal, Shahina Hanif, Om Parkash, Suneel Arwani.
Association of iron deficiency anemia in children with febrile convulsions.
Pak J Neurological Sci Jan ;11(3):3-8.

:To determine the association of iron deficiency anemia in children presented with febrile convulsion. Study Design: Case control study Setting: The pediatric unit III,Civil Hospital,Karachi. Duration: Six months from 30th April 2013 to 1st November 2013 Material and Methods: History regarding age, sex, developmental milestones, family history of febrile seizures or epilepsy, mean of the temperature peak at admission, and the underlying illness were recorded for all cases and controls, as well as details of seizure history, duration and frequency. Blood samples were collected in the Paediatric wardsfor measurements of hemoglobin, serum ferritin, MCV, MCH and MCHC, serum electrolytes, serum calcium, and serum blood sugar. If child with febrile seizures was <12 months then CSF analysis was done to rule out meningitis, with consent from parents/guardian, while in older children signs of meningeal irritation were checked. Results:There were overall 47.1% male and 52.9% female patients. In control group 28.6% were male and 71.4% were female patients. In cases group 65.5% were male and 34.5% were female patients. The overall mean age of study subjects was 34.9±9.3 months, with range of 52 (7 – 59) months. In control group the mean age was 35.27±9.11 month with range 50, mean weight was 13.13±2.55 Kg with range 12 (7–19) Kg, mean hemoglobin level was 9.97±0.29 g/dl with range 1.5 (9.2–10.7) g/dl, mean MCV score was 65.84±1.97 fl with range 10.0 (63.0–73.0) fl, mean MCH score was 27.84±1.97 Pg with range 10.0 (25.0–35.0) Pg, mean MCHC score was 28.84±1.97 gm/dl with range 10 (26.0–36.0) gm/dl, and mean Serum Ferritin Level was 30.84±1.97 fl with range of 10 (28.0 – 38.0) fl. In cases group the mean age was 34.53±9.49 month with range 51(7–58) months, mean weight was 12.80±2.64 Kg with range 11 (7–18) Kg, mean hemoglobin level was 10.00±0.30 g/dl with range 1.7 (9.2–10.9) g/dl, mean MCV score was 65.47±2.14 fl with range 13.0 (60.0–73.0) fl, mean MCH score was 27.43±2.11 Pg with range 12.0 (23.0–35.0) Pg, mean MCHC score was 28.45±2.09 gm/dl with range 12 (24.0–36.0) gm/dl, and mean Serum Ferritin Level was 30.45±2.10 fl with range of 12 (26.0 – 38.0) fl. Out of total 510 included patients iron deficiency anemia was observed in 133 patients among them 51 were in control group and 82 were in cases group. It was observed that there was significant association found between iron deficiency anemia and the two groups with p≤0.05 level of significance. Furthermore, odds ratio of 1.608 indicated that patients with cases are more likely to be diagnosed with Iron Deficiency Anemia. Conclusion: Children with febrile seizures are almost likely to have iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia can be regarded as a risk factor that predisposes to febrile seizures in children.

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