Serum zinc levels in children with simple febrile seizure

A prospective case-control study was conducted in a major tertiary care hospital for children during June 2005 to May 2006 on children aged between 3 months and 5 years to compare serum zinc levels in 38 cases of simple febrile seizure and 38 age-matched controls. The mean serum zinc levels in cases and controls were 32.17 and 87.6 mu g/dL, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P <.001). We conclude that Indian children with febrile seizure had low serum zinc levels, and zinc supplementation to reduce the incidence of febrile seizure should be investigated.