Thalassemia major may decrease the frequency of febrile convulsions in children

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to determine the relative frequency of febrile convulsion in children with major thalassemia to theorize that higher serum iron levels could reduce the incidence of febrile convulsion. Background: Febrile convulsion is the most common type of seizure in childhood that its causes are not fully understood. However, some risk factors have been cited such as the serum iron level. Materials and methods: Three hundred and fifty-nine children aged more than 5 years with major thalassemia who were receiving blood were enrolled as the case group. The control group consisted of 357 children without thalassemia aged 4–7 years (151 boys, 206 girls) who were referred to healthcare centers for routine health monitoring. Included data were the history of febrile convulsion, age of onset and type and the frequency of convulsions. Results: Children in control group significantly experienced more febrile convulsions than thalassemic children [4/359 (1.1%) in the thalassemic children and 14/357 (3.9%) in the control group had experienced febrile convulsions (P=0.017)]. Conclusion: The frequency of febrile convulsion in children with major thalassemia is less than that of normal children. Children with thalassemia major may have higher serum levels of iron and such high serum iron levels might have a protective role in the children who have a vulnerability for febrile convulsions.