FREQUENCY OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA AMONG CHILDREN PRESENTING WITH FEBRILE SEIZURES

Abstract

Febrile seizures are a common neurological condition in young children, affecting around 2-5% of those under the age of 5 worldwide. Although they are usually harmless and resolve independently, they can cause significant distress for parents and caregivers. A recent study aimed to investigate the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children with febrile seizures to determine whether iron status has an impact on these seizures. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, between January 2022 and January 2023. The study included 115 children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years who had experienced febrile seizures. Detailed clinical histories and blood samples were taken to measure hemoglobin, serum iron, ferritin, and complete blood counts. The children were divided into two groups based on their iron deficiency anemia status. The study found that 34.8% of the 115 participants had iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and the remaining 65.2% did not have IDA. The IDA group had significantly lower hemoglobin, serum iron, and ferritin levels than the non-IDA group. The average hemoglobin concentration in the IDA group was 9.8 g/dL, while it was 11.2 g/dL in the non-IDA group. The study suggests that a significant percentage of children who experience febrile seizures may also have iron deficiency anemia. This information can be helpful for healthcare providers in managing and treating these children.