Association of simple febrile seizure with iron deficiency anemia in children in a tertiary hospital in Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Simple febrile seizures represent the most frequent type of seizure disorder in early childhood, with multifactorial etiologies including nutritional and metabolic imbalances. Among these, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has emerged as a possible modifiable risk factor, though evidence remains varied across populations and clinical settings. Aim of the study: To investigate the association between iron deficiency anemia and simple febrile seizures among children presenting to a tertiary hospital in Gazipur, Bangladesh. Methods: A case-control study was conducted over a one-year period, involving 80 children aged 6 months to 6 years. Fourty (40) children with a diagnosis of simple febrile seizure constituted the case group, while 40 age- and sex-matched children with febrile illness but no seizure history served as controls. Comprehensive hematological assessments, including hemoglobin, serum ferritin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and serum iron levels were performed. Statistical analyses were conducted using appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests, with a significance level set at p< 0.05. Result: Children with simple febrile seizures exhibited significantly lower levels of hemoglobin (mean: 9.5 ± 1.0 g/dL), serum ferritin (10.6 ± 4.3 ng/mL), and MCV (66.0 ± 4.6 fL) compared to controls (11.0 ± 1.1 g/dL, 22.0 ± 5.8 ng/mL, and 77.0 ± 5.1 fL, respectively; p< 0.001 for all). The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was markedly higher among cases than controls (72.5% vs. 25%), with an odds ratio of 7.91 (95% CI: 2.77-22.7). Conclusion: Our study highlights a significant association between iron deficiency anemia and simple febrile seizures in children.

Northern International Medical College Journal Vol. 16 No. 1-2 July 2024-January 2025, Page 745-749