Association between microcytic-hypochromic anemia and simple febrile seizure in children

Abstract

Aims: This research aims to assess the impact of microcytic-hypochromic anemia on first febrile seizures in children, given its high incidence in developed countries like Indonesia. Settings and Design: This study was conducted in a regional general hospital setting. Methods and Material: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study including 50 patients aged 6 months to 5 years old over 14 months. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Controls were the age and sex-matched febrile children without accompanying seizures, and the case group admitted with a first simple febrile seizure. Both case and control groups were normal in growth. To provide 95% confidence and 80% power in statistical analysis, a sample size of 25 for each group was calculated. Data including age, gender, body temperature, seizure characteristics, family history of febrile seizure, and laboratory findings consisting of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were recorded. Anemia is defined as having hemoglobin level of less than 10.5 g/dl in children aged 6 months to 2 years old and less than 11.5 g/dl in 2 to 6-year-old patients.