A study of serum zinc levels in children with febrile convulsions in comparison with normal and febrile children

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.