Neurochemical Determinants of Febrile Seizure Susceptibility in Children.

Abstract: Purpose: This study aimed to assess and compare serum levels of sodium, calcium, and magnesium in febrile children with and without seizures, and to examine the neurochemical association between electrolyte imbalance and neuronal excitability. Materials and Methods: A prospective case–cont...

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Published in:Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 146 - 152
Main Authors: Ahmad, Abid, Baba, Obair, Ahmad, Showkat, Shahid, Misbah, Baba, Ainain
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Wolters Kluwer India Pvt Ltd Apr-Jun2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Apr-Jun2026
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      pub: Wolters Kluwer India Pvt Ltd
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        10.4103/jpn.jpn_134_25
        195188572
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        atl: Neurochemical Determinants of Febrile Seizure Susceptibility in Children.
      aug:
        au:
          Ahmad, Abid
          Baba, Obair
          Ahmad, Showkat
          Shahid, Misbah
          Baba, Ainain
        affil: Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu, India
      sug:
        subj:
          Convulsions, Febrile Risk Factors
          Neurotransmitters Adverse Effects
          Disease Susceptibility
          Sodium Blood
          Calcium Blood
          Magnesium Blood
          Fluid-Electrolyte Imbalance
          Neurons
          Risk Assessment
          Fever In Infancy and Childhood
          Human
          India
          Male
          Female
          Prospective Studies
          Case Control Studies
          Hospitals, Pediatric
          Infant
          Child, Preschool
          Blood Specimen Collection
          Descriptive Statistics
          Data Analysis Software
          T-Tests
          Chi Square Test
          Comparative Studies
          Respiratory Tract Infections Etiology
          Infant: 1-23 months
          Child, Preschool: 2-5 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Abstract: Purpose: This study aimed to assess and compare serum levels of sodium, calcium, and magnesium in febrile children with and without seizures, and to examine the neurochemical association between electrolyte imbalance and neuronal excitability. Materials and Methods: A prospective case–control study was conducted over 1 year in the Department of Pediatrics, including 200 children aged 6 months to 5 years, 100 with febrile seizures (FSs) and 100 age- and sex-matched febrile controls. Serum sodium, calcium, and magnesium levels were analyzed using an automated biochemistry analyzer. Data were compared using the independent-sample t test (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 20.0; P < 0.05 considered significant). Results: Children with FSs had significantly lower serum sodium (135.5 ± 4.03 mmol/L), calcium (8.54 ± 0.33 mg/dL), and magnesium (1.81 ± 0.20 mg/dL) levels than controls (140.4 ± 2.78, 9.25 ± 0.51, and 2.07 ± 0.19, respectively; P < 0.001 for all). Most cases were under 2 years of age, and upper respiratory infections were the predominant cause of fever. No significant inter-electrolyte correlations were observed. Conclusion: Altered ionic homeostasis may be associated with transient changes in cortical excitability during febrile illness. Electrolyte evaluation may be considered in selected cases, such as prolonged or recurrent seizures; however, larger prospective outcome-based studies are required before universal routine screening can be recommended. Future studies integrating electrophysiological and neuroimaging correlates are warranted to elucidate the neurochemical mechanisms underlying FSs.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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