Iron Deficiency as a Risk Factor for First Febrile Seizure.

We conducted this study to determine the role of iron deficiency as a risk factor for first febrile seizure in children. Fifty children between 6 months to 6 years with first febrile seizure (Cases) and 50 children with febrile illness but without convulsions (Controls) were enrolled from the pediatric ward of a tertiary care hospital. Iron deficiency was determined by estimation of hemoglobin, red blood cell indices and serum ferritin. The mean serum ferritin level (μg/L) was significantly low in Cases (31.9 ± 31.0) as compared to Controls (53.9 ± 56.5) with P = 0.003. Iron deficiency could be a potential risk factor for febrile seizure in children.

Kocher-debre-semelaigne syndrome with pericardial effusion.

We report a 10-year-old female child with hypothyroidism and limb muscle pseudohypertrophy (i.e. Kocher-Debre-Semelaigne syndrome) with pericardial effusion. The child presented with generalized swelling, breathlessness and difficulty in walking and in getting up from sitting position (of chronic duration). She had bradycardia, dull facies, marked hypertrophy of both calf muscles and nonpitting edema of legs. Pericardial effusion was detected clinically and confirmed on investigations. Muscle pseudohypertrophy was a striking feature and hypothyroidism was confirmed on thyroid studies. The response to thyroxine replacement was excellent, with resolution of the pericardial effusion and clinical improvement. The unusual presence of pericardial effusion in Kocher-Debre-Semelaigne syndrome is discussed in the report.