relationship between zinc deficiency and febrile convulsion in Isfahan, Iran

Febrile convulsion [FC] is a common cause of seizure in young children, with an excellent prognosis. In addition to genetic predisposition and infections, FCs are generally thought to be induced by metabolic and elemental changes during fever such as Zinc [Zn] deficiency. Regarding the high prevalence of febrile convulsions and the role of Zn deficiency, we investigated the role of Zn in FC patients in Isfahan, Iran. In a controlled cross sectional study, 90 patients aged 9 months to 5 years were studied in a period of 12 months. They were assigned to three groups. Thirty patients were included in the Febrile Seizure group, thirty febrile children without convulsion or previous history of convulsion were included in the febrile group and thirty afebrile healthy ones were enrolled as controls. Venous blood was obtained and Zn concentration in serum was measured using Graphite Furnance Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometering [GF-AAS]. Patients and the control groups had no difference in either mean age or sex distribution. No significant relationship was observed between serum Zn level and age or sex among patients in the FC group and two other control groups. Our findings showed that Zinc level was significantly lower in the febrile seizure group compared to two other groups. We tried to categorize various conditions in a more practical form. Also, Zinc is in close relationship with socioeconomic level of the individuals which was well considered in the current survey

Infection rate of cryptosporidium parvum among diarrheic children in Isfahan

Cryptosporidiosis is an important enteric parasitic infection among infants and children in developing countries with significant morbidity and mortality especially among immuno-suppressed individuals. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of enteric cryptosporidiosis in children presenting with diarrhea in Isfahan. This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2007 to June 2008 in three university hospitals in Isfahan. Children aged 1 month to 10 years presenting with acute or persistent diarrhea were selected consecutively. The oocyst of C. parvum was investigated in stool specimens using a modified acid-fast staining method. During the study period, 606 children [mean age 42.4 +/- 30.0 months, 58.1% female] were recruited. Acute and persistent diarrhea was present in 422 [69.6%] and 184 [30.4%] of the children, respectively. Twenty eight [4.6%] specimens were oocyst positive. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection was significantly higher in children with persistent diarrhea compared to children with acute diarrhea [12.5% vs 1.2%; P<0.001]. Most of the infected children were under 5 years of age [89.2%], however, the age difference between infected and non-infected children was not statistically significant. Also, there was no significant difference between infected and non-infected children in gender. The prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis in children presenting with persistent diarrhea is considerable and we suggest routine stool examination for Cryptosporidium in this group of children