ABSTRACT
Background: Febrile seizures occur commonly in the under 5 age group and is associated with few risk factors causing its recurrence like very high fever, family history of seizures, low sodium levels and younger age of onset which are subject to seasonal and wide geographical variations. This study aimed at detecting the major risk factors associated with recurrent febrile seizures in an Indian population.Methods: A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted among a total of 300 cases aged 6 months to 5 years attending to the paediatric OPD with history of fever followed by febrile seizures. Information regarding socio-demographic and clinical variables associated with febrile seizure was collected and analyzed.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 25.6'2.2 months and majority (60%) were males. Family history of seizures was present in 25.3% (n=76) of the children with febrile seizures. Respiratory infections (73.3%) and gastroenteritis (17%) were the major infective reasons associated with the occurrence of febrile seizures followed by pneumonia (6.3%) and urinary tract infections (5%). Recurrence of FS was significantly higher among the children with family history of FS (p=0.009), age at onset lesser (p<0.001) and simple FS seizures.Conclusions: Younger age at onset and positive family history of seizures were important socio-demographic risk factors associated with recurrent febrile seizures.
ABSTRACT
Background: Anemia has been widely studied as an important factor in the immunity composition of under five children. The incidence of infections in children can be attributed to some extend to the prevalence of anemia among them. Hence this study aimed at exploring the association between anemia and lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) among the 6 months to 5 years old children as an effort to establish anemia as an independent risk factor for LRTI.Methods: A case-control study was conducted among 200 children in the age group of 6 months'5 years who attended the out-patient and in-patient unit of the department of paediatrics during July to September 2019. Accordingly 100 cases of LRTI and 100 normal controls were age and gender matched and their parents were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Blood investigations were done and documented in a proforma. The association between anemia and LRTI was studied statistically.Results: Anemia was associated strongly with LRTI [odds ratio=4.96 (2.72, 9.1)] with 68% of the cases with LRTI manifesting anemia. The highest level of anemia was recorded among those with LRTI in the 25-42 months age group (80.8%) which was significantly (p<0.001) higher than controls. The mean hemoglobin level was 9.6'0.8 gm% among the cases which was significantly lower (p<0.001) than that of the controls (11.7'1.1 gm%). The mean iron level was 40'7.3 ?g/dL among cases and 72'12.1?g/dL among the non-LRTI group (p<0.001).Conclusions: Anemia was significantly associated with LRTI group compared to the control group proving it to be an independent risk factor for LRTI.