Serum Level of Vitamin D and Febrile Seizure? A Clinical Study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the serum level of vitamin D in children aged six to 60 months with febrile seizure and febrile children without the seizure. MATERIALS & METHODS: Febrile children aged six to 60 months with or without seizure were studied. Demographic characteristics, serum level of vitamin D, and other laboratory findings were recorded. RESULTS: Among the 104 children, 51 patients had fever without a seizure and 53 patients had a febrile seizure. The mean subjects’ age was significantly more in the febrile seizure group compared to the without seizure group (16.26 ± 11.87 versus 26.36 ± 14.11 months, p = 0.001). The mean serum level of vitamin D in the with and without seizure groups was 41.92 ± 22.42 and 48.41 ± 15.25 microgram per deciliter, respectively (p = 0.08). There was no significant correlation between serum level of vitamin D and seizure occurrence (p = 0.07). The mean serum sodium and potassium levels, and platelet count were significantly lower in the febrile seizure group compared to the without seizure group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding hemoglobin, blood sugar, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, alkaline phosphatase levels, and white blood cell count (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The serum level of vitamin D in febrile children with or without seizure was normal. The serum level of vitamin D was lower in patients with the seizure but not statistically significant. More clinical studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between febrile seizure and the serum level of vitamin D.