Author(s): Srinivasa S and Sai Praneeth Reddy
The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of iron deficiency as a risk factor for simple febrile seizures in children aged 6 months to 5 years. This is a prospective cohort study recruiting 108 cases with simple febrile seizures and 100 controls with febrile illness without any seizures. All patients were assessed for iron deficiency anaemia by measuring haemoglobin level, serum ferritin level, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV). Patients with iron deficiency anaemia amongst controls and cases were documented. Percentages and Odds ratio were derived from the collected data. 39.96% of cases ( 37 out of 108) had iron deficiency anemia and 22% of controls(22 out of 100) were found to have iron deficiency anaemia as revealed by low levels of haemoglobin level, serum ferritin level, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration and Mean Corpuscular Volume. Odds ratio was 1.847. Patients with febrile seizures were 1.847 times more likely to have iron deficiency anaemia compared to febrile patients without seizures.