THE ASSOCIATION OF IRON AND ZINC DEFICIENCIES WITH THE INCIDENCE OF FEBRILE CONVULSIONS

Introduction: Febrile seizures occur in 2% to 5% of children younger than 5 years, with the highest frequency noted during the second year of life, rendering them the most common form of seizure. Objective: To examine the correlation between febrile convulsions and the deficiencies of iron and zinc. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted at Autonomous State Medical College & allied pt.Ram Prasad Bismil hospital Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The study included 90 children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, divided into two groups: 45 children with febrile convulsions as the study group and 45 febrile children without convulsions as the control group. A venous blood sample of 5 ml was obtained from all participants in both groups and sent to the laboratory for the evaluation of iron, zinc, and other hematological parameters. Children diagnosed with iron and zinc deficiencies were recommended to undergo supplementation of these minerals for duration of three months. After commencement of study, 3 ml of venous blood was collected from each participant and sent to the laboratory for assessment of serum iron and zinc level. Results: The comparison between the groups revealed that the study group exhibited significantly lower levels of Hemoglobin (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), as well as serum iron and zinc, with a statistical significance of 0.001. Following supplementation, a notable enhancement in serum iron and zinc levels was observed in comparison to baseline value.(p<0.05) Conclusion: The findings of the current study conclude that deficiencies in iron and zinc are contributing factors for the development of febrile convulsions. The current study recommends the inclusion of iron and zinc supplementation in children to aid in the prevention and management of febrile convulsions.