Shakeel Ahmed
Pushpagiri Medical College, IndiaPresentation Title:
Relationship between serum Zinc levels and febrile seizures, a hospital based case control study
Abstract
Introduction: Febrile seizures are common in children and are frequently associated with fever due to various infections. Zinc, a crucial component of certain enzymes, exerts significant influence on the central nervous system (CNS) and can impact CNS inhibitory mechanisms. Serum zinc levels have been implicated in neurological conditions, prompting interest in their potential relevance to febrile seizures.
Objective: This study sets out to investigate whether serum zinc levels differ between children experiencing febrile seizures and those with febrile illnesses but no seizures. It also aims to uncover any potential connections between serum zinc levels and variables such as age, gender, type of febrile seizures, recurrence frequency, and clinical presentation.
Methodology: This prospective case-control study was conducted at Sree Gokulam Medical College, Venjaramoodu, Kerala, Southern India, between December 2022 and June 2024. The study involved 158 patients aged 6 months to 72 months, divided into two groups: 79 children with febrile seizures (cases) and 79 febrile children without seizures (controls). Both groups were matched for age, sex, and clinical presentation. All participants underwent detailed history-taking, thorough clinical examinations, and relevant investigations. Serum zinc levels in both groups were assessed using colorimetry, which employs the principles of photometry for measurement.
Results: In our study, the mean serum zinc level in the case group was 81.1 µg/dl, whereas in the control group, it was 142 µg/dl. This results in a statistically significant difference of 61.3 µg/dl lower in the case group compared to controls, with a significance level of less than 1% (P-value <0.01). Our study did not reveal any significant statistical associations between serum zinc levels and age, gender, type of febrile seizures, recurrence rate, or clinical presentation. Hypozincaemia (Serum Zinc <65µg/dl) was present in around 48% in our case group, compared to 6% in our control group.
Conclusion: In this study, we observed a notable decrease in serum zinc levels among children who had febrile seizures compared to those who experienced febrile illness without seizures. These findings suggest that children with lower serum zinc levels may have a higher susceptibility to developing febrile seizures. Hypozincaemia was present in around 48% in our case group, compared to 6% in our control group. Our study also concluded that low serum zinc did not show a significant association with age group, gender, seizure type, recurrence of seizures. The heightened risk of febrile seizures in children with lower zinc levels outlines the potential importance of monitoring and addressing zinc status in paediatric care, particularly in managing febrile seizures.
Biography
Shakeel Ahmed Pediatrician Completed MD in Pediatrics from Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Trivandrum, Kerala and currently working in Pushpagiri Medical College, Thiruvalla, Kerala. Has been actively involved in clinical care and academic teaching. Areas of interest include preventive pediatrics, child neurology and infectious diseases.
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