The Relation Between Febrile Seizure and Serum Iron and Zinc Levels in Children

Abstract Purpose: Febrile seizures (FS) are the most commonly seen seizure type in children and its etiology is not fully understood. It is seen in 2-4% of all children. The most common factors contributing the etiopathogenesis of FS are fever, genetic predisposition and age. Other triggering factors include deficiency of iron, zinc and immunoglobulins as well as cytokine and interferon mechanisms. Methods: This prospective and sectional study includes children between the ages 5 months to 5 years, who came to the outpatient pediatric clinic of Health Sciences University Bagcilar Research and Education Hospital between August 2020 and May 2021. The patient group includes 53 patients who came to the emergency service with febrile seizures and came for a follow-up within the following month and the control group includes 53 healthy children who came for a routine checkup with no prior history of seizures or other illnesses. Results: The age of first time FS ranged from 7 months to 60 months with an average age of 19.6 months. 15.1% of patients had a first degree relative with a history of FS and 7.5% of patients had a family member with a history of epilepsy. Serum iron and serum zinc levels were statistically meaningfully lower in the FS group compared to the control group. (p:0.000; p:0.000; p<0.05 respectively)Conclusion: The occurrence of febrile seizures is closely related to serum iron and zinc levels. We can say that FS is triggered once these parameters are below a threshold.