Indian Pediatrics

, Volume 47, Issue 5, pp 437–439 | Cite as

Iron deficiency as a risk factor for first febrile seizure

  • Rajwanti K. Vaswani
  • Praveen G. Dharaskar
  • Swati Kulkarni
  • K. Ghosh
Short Communication

Abstract

We conducted this study to determine the role of iron deficiency as a risk factor for first febrile seizure in children. Fifty children between 6 months to 6 years with first febrile seizure (Cases) and 50 children with febrile illness but without convulsions (Controls) were enrolled from the pediatric ward of a tertiary care hospital. Iron deficiency was determined by estimation of hemoglobin, red blood cell indices and serum ferritin. The mean serum ferritin level (μg/L) was significantly low in Cases (31.9 ± 31.0) as compared to Controls (53.9 ± 56.5) with P = 0.003. Iron deficiency could be a potential risk factor for febrile seizure in children.

Key words

Febrile seizure Serum ferritin Iron deficiency 

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Copyright information

© Indian Academy of Pediatrics 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Rajwanti K. Vaswani
    • 1
    • 2
  • Praveen G. Dharaskar
    • 1
  • Swati Kulkarni
    • 1
  • K. Ghosh
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of PediatricsKing Edward Memorial HospitalParel MumbaiIndia
  2. 2.Chembur MumbaiIndia

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