The survey of relationship between the first afebrile seizure and Iron deficiency anemia in 3 months to 16 years old children referring to the neurology clinic in Aliasghar children’s hospital during 2017-2019

Abstract

The survey of relationship between the first afebrile seizure and Iron deficiency anemia in 3 months to 16 years old children referring to the neurology clinic in Aliasghar children’s hospital during 2017-2019 Azita Tvasoli1, Seyyede Faride Farahi*2, Nahid Khosroshahi3, Mohsen Fathi4 1 Department of Pediatric Neurology, Ali Asghar Childrenchr('39')s Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2 Department of Pediatrics, Ali Asghar Childrenchr('39')s Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 3 Department of Pediatric Neurology, Bahrami Childrenchr('39')s Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 4 Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Ahvaz Jondishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Background: Seizure is the most common neurologic problem in children. On the other hands, the most common nutritional problem in developing countries is iron deficiency. A few studies has pointed to association between iron deficiency and the first unprovoked seizure without fever. Also the results of these studies are controversial. Due to the effects of anemia and the possibility of its effect on the occurrence of seizures in children this study was carried out to determine the relation of iron deficiency anemia with first unprovoked seizure Methods: This study is a case-control study. The study population included 172 children aged 3 months to 16 years old who referred to the neurology clinic of Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS) Childrenchr('39')s Educational and Medical Center in Tehran Sciences due to their first afebrile seizure during 2017-2019. Samples were divided into case and control groups based on the reason of hospitalization Control group included of 86 children (3month-16years old) referring for other causes to this center from 2017-2019. The children with fever or any type of chronic systemic disease (cardiac, renal, metabolic, confectious) and the children with the history of using drugs or blood iron transfusion for treatment of anemia were excluded. Cell blood count (CBC), Serum ferritin, iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were measured in all of children. Iron deficiency anemia was diagnosed by the values of CBC, ferritin, serum iron and TIBC based on the Nelson text book of pediatrics. Data were analyzed by chi-square and independent T-test and SPSS 22 software. Results: From 172 participants, 73 (%42 ) were girls and 99 (%57) were boys, the average age in case group was 6.4±3.75 years old, and in control group was 5.79 ±3.65 years old. From 86 patients with seizure 34 (%0.39) were girls and 52 (%0.60) were boys. In case group serum iron average was 55.1±28.4 µg/dl. Hb in 24 persons (%27.9) and ferritin in 14 persons (%16.3) was in the lower limits of normal. In the control group serum iron average was 51.8±25.79 µg/dl. Ferritin in 20 persons (%23.3) and Hb in persons (%27.9) was in the lower limits of normal. In the case group14 persons (%16.3) and in the control group 20 persons (%23.3) had iron deficiency anemia .the difference statistically was meaningless. (P value >0.05) Conclusion: There was no statistically significant differences between the first unprovoked seizure without fever and iron deficiency anemia in our study. However the more comprehensive studies should be done in this regard. Keywords: Anemia, iron-deficiency anemia, seizures, First unprovoked seizure, pediatrics.