European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ROLE OF ZINC IN FEBRILE SEIZURES IN CHILDREN

*Dr. Sudhir Mehta MBBS, DCH, DNB (PEDIATRICS)

ABSTRACT

Background: Febrile convulsion is the most common type of seizures in childhood. Zinc has been studied in the context of pathophysiology of febrile seizure. The objective of the present study was to compare the serum zinc levels in children with febrile seizure from healthy children. Methods: The present study was a cross sectional study. A total of 40 children aged between 6 months to 5 years fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. The study comprised of 2 groups, one with febrile seizures (40 cases) and another group of similar sex and age matched healthy children (40 cases). Serum zinc was measured by colorimetric method and compared among the groups using statistical methods. Results: There was no significant difference in sex, age, weight, height and head circumference between the two groups (P >0.05). Mean serum zinc level was48.89 ± 17.17 μgm/dl and 95.80 ± 18.76 μgm/dl in febrile seizure group and healthy children group respectively. It was significantly lower in first group compared to other. Conclusions: Serum zinc level was lower in children with simple febrile seizures as compared to healthy children which were found to be statistically significant.

Keywords: Febrile seizure, Serum zinc level, healthy children.