Evaluation of the association between iron deficiency anemia and febrile convulsions in children at Al-Mahmodyiah General Hospital: A case-control study

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common seizures in young children, often occurring with fever but without an underlying central nervous system infection. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA), a widespread nutritional issue, has been suggested as a potential risk factor for febrile convulsions (FC), but the association remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the relationship between IDA and FC in children at Al-Mahmodyiah General Hospital, to inform prevention strategies.Methods: This hospital-based case-control study was conducted from January 2022 to January 2023 at Al-Mahmodyiah General Hospital. It included 134 children aged 6–60 months, divided into a case group (65 children with febrile convulsions) and a control group (69 children with fever but no convulsions). Data on demographic factors, clinical presentation, and hematological and biochemical parameters, including ferritin and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), were collected and analyzed.