Iron deficiency as a risk factor for simple febrile seizures--a case control study.

OBJECTIVE

To study the role of iron deficiency as a risk factor for simple febrile seizures.

DESIGN

Case control study.

SETTING

Pediatric department of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

154 cases and 154 controls were included in the study. Consecutive cases and concurrent controls were selected. Cases were children of age group 6 months to 3 years presenting with simple febrile seizures. Controls were children of same age group presenting with short febrile illness but without any seizures.

METHODS

After informed consent, detailed history was taken and clinical examination done in both cases and controls and blood investigations were done to diagnose iron-deficiency in both cases and controls. Iron deficiency was diagnosed as per WHO criteria (hemoglobin value <11 g%, red cell distribution width of >15% and serum ferritin value <12 ng/mL). Other explanatory variables, which can be the potential confounders were also included in the study and considered for analysis.

RESULTS

Highly significant association was found between iron deficiency and simple febrile seizures in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Crude odds ratio was 5.34 (CI 3.27- 8.73, P<0.001) and adjusted odds ratio in the logistic regression analysis was 4.5 (CI 2.69- 7.53, P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Iron deficiency is a significant risk factor for simple febrile seizures in children of age group 6 months to 3 years.