IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA AS A RISK FACTOR FOR FEBRILE SEIZURES IN PEDIATRIC AGE GROUP

*Mohamed Abdelmalek, Maryem E. Ismail and Hana M. Badi

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the association of iron deficiency anemia with febrile seizures in children presenting in Misurata medical center / Libya. Design: Case controls study. Place & duration of study: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Misurata medical center /Libya From June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. Subjects & Methods: A total 200 (100 cases &100 controls) were included in the study. Children with febrile seizures and controls were included without seizures. Informed consent was taken from parents of each child. Children were divided into two groups, cases and controls, on the basis of presence or absence of seizures. Serum ferritin level, Hb, HCT and MCV levels were assessed. Results: Among cases 73 (73%) children and among controls 28 (28%) children had iron deficiency anemia. Mean Hb level in cases and controls were 9.86±2.28 and 9.48±1.86 mg/dl respectively. Mean RDW among cases and controls was 28.82±10.78 and 31.10±15.97. Mean MCV value in cases and controls wa 69.03±10.84 and 72.91±11.63 respectively. Mean HCT level in cases was 29.75±5.22 and in controls mean HCT level was 32.85±11.86 Odds ratio of 6.9 shows that cases i.e. children who had iron deficiency anemia had more chances of seizures as compared to children without anemia. Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia is considered as a risk factor for febrile seizures in children. (Cases v controls 73 % vs. 28 %)

Keywords: Iron deficiency anemia, Simple febrile seizures, Hemoglobin.