Association between iron deficiency and provoked febrile seizure in a middle income country: A case control study in Tehran, Iran

Abstract Objective: Febrile convulsion (FC) is the most common form of seizures disorder (3-4%) in childhood with good prognosis. Some evidences indicate that iron deficiency (ID) might play a role in initiation of FC. The aim of this case‐control study was to evaluate, the role for ID in pathogenesis of FC (febrile convulsion). We studied 35 FC children and 35 controls (febrile diseases without convulsion) Results The mean age of cases were 2.191 ± 0946 vs 1.93 ± 1.433 years in controls .Mean Hemoglobin level (11.6 ± 079 vs 11.86± 071; p value= 0.2); MCV (75.8 ± 4.3 vs 77.62± 4.1,p value= 0.08) ;serum ferritin levels (54.57 ± 24 vs 58.31± 23, p value= 0.64) had not significant difference between 2 groups. The ferritin level 36ng/ml; had 74.3% sensitivity, 20% specifity, 56% PPV, 52% NPV, Positive likelihood Ratio: 1.3; Negative likelihood Ratio: 0.93 to discriminate 2 groups. In our opinion, ID could not lead to FC in all children, but in some cases with genetic basis; ID raises the threshold for seizures. Due to high prevalence of ID (26%) especially in your Iranian population, adding the Iron to diet might be helpful in decreasing FC in susceptible cases.