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–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.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{ahmad2026neurochemical,
  title = {{Neurochemical Determinants of Febrile Seizure Susceptibility in Children}},
  author = {Abid Ahmad and Obair Baba and Showkat Ahmad and Misbah Shahid and Ainain Baba},
  journal = {Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.4103/jpn.jpn_134_25},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/jpn.jpn_134_25},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Neurochemical Determinants of Febrile Seizure Susceptibility in Children
AU  - Abid Ahmad
AU  - Obair Baba
AU  - Showkat Ahmad
AU  - Misbah Shahid
AU  - Ainain Baba
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/01
JO  - Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences
DO  - 10.4103/jpn.jpn_134_25
UR  - https://doi.org/10.4103/jpn.jpn_134_25
AB  - 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.
SN  - 1817-1745
SN  - 1998-3948
ER  -

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