Relationship between serum iron level and febrile convulsion in children

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between febrile convulsion, serum iron levels and whole blood parameters. This cross-sectional case-control study included patients aged 6 months-6 years-old brought to the department of pediatrics of Kütahya ParkHayat Hospital with febrile convulsions between January 2015 and December 2019. The patients were divided into two groups as: febrile with convulsions (study group; n= 47) and febrile without convulsions (control group; n= 35). Both groups were age and sex-matched. Some blood parameters such as mean serum iron, ferritin, Hb and MCV levels were used to compare the groups. Mean serum iron levels of the study and control groups were 33.7 ± 2.1 μg/dL and 56.3 ± 7.4 μg/dL (p<0.05), and serum ferritin levels were 27.3 ± 6.2 ng/mL and 31.1 ± 2.1 ng/ mL (p>0.05), respectively. Mean hemoglobin levels of the study and control groups were 10.6 ± 1.7 g/dL and 11.1 ± 1.4 g/dL (p <0.05), and mean MCV levels were 71.1 ± 1.2 fL and 73.2 ± 1.1 fL (p>0.05), respectively. In the light of the findings of this study, the low serum iron and ferritin levels may be reinforcing factors for developing febrile convulsion. However, multicentre studies with more patients are needed to reach a precise conclusion.