ABSTRACT
Background: A seizure is a paroxysmal time-limited change in motor activity and or behavior that results from abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures are common in the pediatric age group and occur in approximately 10% of children. Most seizures in children are provoked by somatic disorders originating outside the brain such as high fever, infection, syncope, head trauma, hypoxia, or toxins. To determine whether children with febrile convulsion have decreased serum zinc level when compared to normal children and children with fever without convulsions.Methods: The study included children admitted with bronchiolitis in between during the period of September 2018 to January 2019 at Department of Pediatrics, Raja Muthiah Medical College and Hospital. It is a case-control study. A sample size of 50 was selected for each group Totally 3 Groups, 1. Children with febrile convulsions,2. Children with fever without convulsions, 3. Normal Children.Results: The mean serum zinc level in children with febrile convulsions was 42.9 mcg/dl. The serum zinc level in children with fever and normal children was 70 mcg/dl and 71 mcg/dl respectively. On comparing the serum zinc level among the three groups statistical significance was obtained between children with febrile convulsions and the other two groups namely normal children and children with fever alone. Thus, decreased serum zinc level is a significant predisposing factor for febrile convulsions. By using Posthoc Multiple comparisons test we came to know that the Fever convulsion group is significantly different from fever and normal group. There is no significant difference between fever and normal group.Conclusions: This study shows that serum zinc levels are decreased in children with febrile convulsions, thus indicating that zinc deprivation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of febrile convulsions.
ABSTRACT
Background: Childhood poisoning covers the entire gamut from accidental ingestion in toddlers and preschool children to intentional overdosage in adolescents. To find the clinic- epidemiological profile of poisoning regarding age, sex, type of poison, manner of poisoning, common clinical features, duration between poisoning and presentation to hospital, duration of hospital stay, to find out the different agents involved duration of ICU stay, pre-referral treatment and treatment given.Methods: All children below 12 years of age admitted during the one-year study period with a history of poisoning were included. Animal bites, snake and scorpion envenomation, chronic poisoning, drug allergy was excluded. All children were examined, investigated and treated according to hospital policy. The outcome of poisoning was recorded.Results: There were 143 cases of children with poisoning admitted. Accidental poisoning constituted 88.1% cases (n126),7.7% (n11) was suicidal and the remaining 4.2%(n6) was homicidal. In most cases, poisoning was due to hydrocarbons followed by pesticides. kerosene oil was the most common substance followed by OPC.Conclusions: The highest incidence of poisoning was observed in children below 5 years of age and from the lower middle socio-economic group. Most of the poisons were household products and the most common nature of exposure was accidental in most of the cases, recovery was complete.