Association between Iron & Other Trace Elements Deficiency and Febrile Seizure in Children

Introduction: Febrile seizures are the most common type of seizure in children occurring in 2-5 % of them with a peak incidence in 16-18 months. Various factors have been described in the pathophysiology of febrile seizures like susceptibility of the immature brain to temperature, an association between interleukins, circulating toxins, and trace elements deficiency.

Aim: To study the association between serum levels of trace elements (Iron, zinc, copper, calcium and magnesium) in children with febrile seizures.

Study Design: An observational cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pediatrics of PGIMER, Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi between November 2016 and March 2018.

Methodology: This study was conducted at a tertiary care centre and enrolled 75 children of which 55 were febrile seizures and 20 patients were controls. The serum specimen was collected with all aseptic techniques, and all due precautions were taken for the blood sample to protect them from sunlight exposure, haemolysis and contamination. Then samples were centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 5 minutes and were stored at -20 c until the final assay. Serum Iron, Zinc, Copper and Magnesium levels were measured using a fully automated chemistry analyser (AU400). Data was entered in MS Excel spreadsheets and analysed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 21.0.

Results: Children with febrile seizures (cases) were found to have significant iron deficiency (higher TIBC, higher UIBC and lower Ferritin) than the controls (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the serum levels of copper, zinc, magnesium, and ionized calcium in the two groups. There was no difference in serum levels of trace elements in cases with simple or complex febrile seizure.

Conclusion: Children with febrile seizures showed significant iron deficiency (higher TIBC, higher UIBC and lower Ferritin) in cases than those with controls. But, there was no significant association between other serum trace elements (zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium) and febrile seizure. However, further large multi-centric trials are required to suggest any association between them.