Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Iron deficiency as a risk factor for first febrile seizure

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Indian Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Johnston MV. Seizures in childhood: Febrile seizures. In: Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, editors. Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics. 17th ed. Pennsylvania: Saunders; 2004. p. 1994–1995.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pisacane A, Sansone R, Impagliazzo N, Coppola A, Rolando P, D’Apuzzo A, et al. Iron deficiency anemia and febrile convulsion: Case control study in children under 2 years. BMJ 1996; 313: 343.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kobrinsky NL, Yager JY, Cheang MS, Yatscoff RW, Tenenbein M. Does iron deficiency raise the seizure threshold? J Child Neurol 1995; 10: 105–109.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Oski FA, Honig AS. The effects of therapy on the developmental scores of iron deficient infants. Pediatrics 1978; 92: 21–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gupta P, Shah D. Protein Energy Malnutrition. In: Ghai OP, Gupta P, Paul VK, editors. Ghai Essential Pediatrics. 6th ed. New Delhi: CBS Publishers & Distributors; 2004.p. 101–118.

    Google Scholar 

  6. De Gruchy GC. Clinical Hematology in Medical Practice, 5th ed. Victoria: Blackwell Science Ltd; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dallman PR, Yip R, Oski FA. Iron deficiency and related nutritional anemias. In: Nathan DG, Oski FA, editors. Hematology of Infancy and Childhood. 4th ed. Mexico: Saunders; 1993. p. 413–450.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Daoud AS, Batieha A, Abu Etiesh F, Gharaibeh N, Ajlouni S, Hijazi S. Iron status: a possible risk factor for first febrile seizure. Epilepsia 2002; 43: 740–743.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Daoud AS, Batieha A, AL-Sheyyab M, Abuekteish F, Hijazi S. Effectiveness of iron therapy on breath holding spells. J Pediatr 1997; 130: 547–550.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Parel Mumbai, India

    Rajwanti K. Vaswani, Praveen G. Dharaskar, Swati Kulkarni & K. Ghosh

  2. Bungalow no — 1, Gulab Park, Opposite Hong Kong Bank, Near Basant Cinema, Chembur Mumbai, 400 074, India

    Rajwanti K. Vaswani

Authors
  1. Rajwanti K. Vaswani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Praveen G. Dharaskar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Swati Kulkarni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Ghosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajwanti K. Vaswani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vaswani, R.K., Dharaskar, P.G., Kulkarni, S. et al. Iron deficiency as a risk factor for first febrile seizure. Indian Pediatr 47, 437–439 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0080-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0080-8

Key words

Search

Navigation