Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children with Febrile Convulsions: A Case–control Study at Sohag University Hospital

Background: Iron is necessary for healthy growth and development, and iron deficiency has been linked to behavioural problems, mental impairment, and reduced immunological function in children. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects 48.5 percent of Egyptian preschoolers (aged 6 to 59 months).
 Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the iron status in children with first febrile seizure (FFS).
Patients and Methods: This was a case-control hospital-based study that included children with febrile convulsion as case group and children with febrile illness without convulsion as controls, aged from 6 months to 6 years at Sohag University Hospital. Our study included 110 children, 55 as case group and 55 as controls from June 2019 to December 2020. Results: Pallor observed in 28% only of case group against only 17% of control group. The mean temperature at which children start to convulse was 39.36±51. The mean Hb level of case group was statistically significantly lower than normal and was 10.73±1.44 versus 11.77±1.24 for control group. The mean of serum ferritin was statistically significantly lower than normal and was 13.41±11.71 versus 30.18±8.9 for control group. The mean of total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was statistically significantly higher than normal and was 430.91±87.8 versus 362.73±63.81 for control group.
Conclusion: The result suggests that iron deficiency anemia may be a risk factor for febrile seizures. Thus screening for IDA should be considered in children with febrile seizures. Fever can worsen the negative effect of anemia or iron deficiency on the brain and a seizure can occur as a consequence. This suggests that iron deficient children are more prone to febrile seizures.