Abstract
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 <11g%, red cell distribution width of >15% and serum ferritin value < 12ng/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.
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Leela Kumari, P., Nair, M.K.C., Nair, S.M. et al. Iron deficiency as a risk factor for simple febrile seizures-A case control study . Indian Pediatr 49, 17–19 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-012-0008-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-012-0008-6