Assessment of serum zinc, selenium and copper in simple febrile convulsions in children aged 6 to 60 months in Mohammad Kermanshahi Hospital in 2012 year

Background: Some trace elements may play a role in the etiology of febrile convulsions. This study was aimed to determine the relationship between serum zinc, selenium and copper level and febrile convulsion.

Methods: In this case – control study, 114 children with febrile disease and 101 children with simple febrile convulsion were selected as control and case groups, respectively. After collecting all samples, serum levels of selenium, zinc and copper were measured and the obtained data were analyzed by Spss software using independent t-test

Results: Mean serum zinc level in control group (80.24±10.06) was significantly higher than that of the case group (63.54±6.7) (P<0.001). Mean serum selenium level in control group (80.78±10.12) was significantly higher that that of the case group (59.32±6.92) (P<0.001). Mean serum copper level in the male control group (73.08±9.68) was significantly lower than that of the case group (81.80 ±10.81) (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The causal correlation between variables cannot be determined by only one case-control study. Only the differences between groups are reported.