Study of serum magnesium levels and its correlation with febrile convulsions in children aged 6 months to 5 years of age

Background: Various studies have shown the correlation between Magnesium, Zinc and Copper levels in Serum and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and occurrence of Febrile Convulsions. Hypomagnesaemia is characterized by hyper excitability of the central nervous system leading to convulsions. Hence the study is undertaken to find out the Serum Magnesium levels and its correlation with febrile convulsions. Aim: To Study the Serum levels of Magnesium in children: 6 months - 5 years of age with febrile convulsions and to establish the correlation between serum Magnesium levels and febrile convulsions. Materials and methods: This study was done in the Department of Pediatrics, Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad from July 2015 to July 2016. It was an Observational Prospective study. A total of 120 children 6 months to 5 years of age admitted with history of fever and convulsions diagnosed as febrile convulsions were included in the study. Serum Magnesium levels were measured using catalyst method by Synchron CXR systems. Informed Consent was taken from Parents of all the children. Detailed Clinical History was taken along with thorough Clinical examination. Complete Blood Counts, Serum Magnesium levels, Serum Electrolytes, Blood Glucose and Serum Calcium levels were done. CT scan brain was done wherever required Results: Out of 120 total cases: 104 (86.67%) were Typical Febrile Convulsions. 16 (13.33%) were Atypical Febrile convulsions. Hypomagnesemia was seen in 19 (16%) children. Out of these, 9 (47.36%) cases were Males and 10(52.64%) cases were Females. Out of 104 Typical Febrile convulsions: 17 cases were shown hypomagnesemia, 87 were shown Normal magnesium levels. Out of 16 Atypical Febrile convulsion cases: Only 2 cases were having hypomagnesemia and 14 were having Normal Magnesium. Conclusion: No association was found with Gender, Age, and Temperature of the patient and subtype of febrile convulsions. Statistically significant association was found with hypomagnesemia and ‘Typical Febrile convulsions'. No such association was found with Atypical Febrile convulsions. Therapeutic value of administration of Magnesium in children with febrile convulsions associated with hypomagnesemia to be established. This requires further interventional studies. Larger clinical studies are required to establish the association of hypomagnesemia and febrile convulsions. Further studies are suggested to determine the effect of Magnesium administration for the prevention of febrile convulsions.