Dissertação de Mestrado Nutrição Humana e Metabolismo 2023 Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa

Febrile convulsions, also known as febrile seizures, are a common occurrence among children under the age of six, typically occurring during a fever. Despite their prevalence, the role of micronutrients in their development is not well understood. To gain further insight, a study was conducted in the Duhok province of Kurdistan Region----Iraq to investigate the relationship between iron, zinc, and vitamin D levels and the development of febrile convulsions.
The study collected data from 54 children with febrile convulsions and 52 children with fever who were admitted to the Heevi Teaching Pediatric Hospital between January and May of 2022.
In addition to examining the role of micronutrient deficiencies, the study also sought to identify any commonalities between the case and control groups, including differences in geographic location or infant feeding habits.
Objectives: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the role of micronutrient (iron, zinc, and vitamin D)levels in the development of febrile convulsions in children under 6 years old. In this regard, this study endeavored to investigate whether the nutritional status of children is related to the presence of febrile convulsions and their severity, and to compare case and control groups according to regions (e.g., Duhok city vs. outside of Duhok city ---- suburban towns and villages) and infant feeding habits.
Findings: Upon analysis, the study found no significant difference in the levels of iron, zinc, and vitamin D between the case and control groups. However, the study did observe a higher number of cases admitted from outside the city center compared to within the city, suggesting that geographic location may play a role in the development of febrile convulsions. However, the level of micronutrients, especially vitamin D, was low in both outside and inside groups.
These findings have important implications for clinical practice and future research. While the results suggest that micronutrient deficiencies may not be a significant risk factor for febrile convulsions, it is important to continue investigating other potential factors that may
contribute to their development. Furthermore, healthcare providers should take into account the potential geographic disparities in the incidence of febrile convulsions and adjust their treatment and prevention strategies accordingly.
In conclusion, this study sheds light on the relationship between micronutrients and febrile
convulsions and highlights the importance of continued research in this area. It also underscores the need for healthcare providers to consider geographic location when addressing febrile convulsions