Abstract
BACKGROUND FOR THE STUDY: This study looks into the relationship between febrile seizures in children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years who suffer from iron insufficiency. Febrile seizures, which are common in early life, are associated with abrupt temperature increases, and iron deficiency impacts neurological development in young infants. Understanding this relationship would lead to interventions that mitigate febrile seizure impact. AIM: To investigate the link between iron deficiency and febrile seizures in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. METHOD: A "retrospective case-control study" of 300 cases and 300 controls, including demographic, seizure, and laboratory data, was conducted. Descriptive statistics were computed using "Chi-square tests for proportions" and "t-tests for means" with P ≤ 0.05 as the level of significance. RESULT: Significant findings emerged, including a notably younger mean age among cases (1.75 years) compared to controls (2.93 years). Cases showed higher rates of upper respiratory tract infections (3.7% vs. 0.3% in controls) and lower occurrences of viral febrile illnesses. Notably, cases had a lower prevalence of non-vegetarian diets and a higher incidence of family histories related to seizures. "Iron deficiency anemia" was more common in these instances, evident in blood parameters, alongside increased WBC counts. Recurrent seizures correlated with a lower mean RBC count (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The study confirms the link between "iron deficiency anemia" and "febrile seizures" among young children. Addressing iron deficiency emerges as a critical modifiable factor in potentially reducing the occurrence and impact of severe seizures, emphasizing the necessity of proactive efforts in pediatric treatment programs.