Febrile Convulsion among Hospitalized Children Aged Six Months to Five Years and Its Association With Haemoglobin Electrophoretic Pattern
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Public Health and Medical Sciences of Jimma University
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Febrile convulsion and sickle cell disease are common in tropical countries
and both are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Worldwide, Nigeria has the
highest prevalence of sickle cell disease. However, there is a dearth of knowledge on the
haemoglobin electrophoresis in patients with febrile convulsions.
METHODS: This was a hospital based, descriptive, cross-sectional study of the relationship
between haemoglobin genotype and febrile convulsion at the University of Ilorin Teaching
Hospital over a period of 12 months. A self-designed pretested questionnaire was administered
on the subjects, and necessary examinations and investigations were conducted.
RESULTS: Of a total of 1675 children admitted into the emergency paediatric unit during the
study period, children aged 6 months–5 years that presented with febrile convulsions were
167(10%) . Of this, 1,212 were aged 6 months-5 years. Thus, the age specific, hospital-based
prevalence was 13.8%. The M:F was 1.1:1. Their Haemoglobin genotype distribution was AA
131(78.4%), AS 23(13.8%), AC 6(3.6%), SS 6(3.6%), and 1(0.6%) SC. The mean age of the
sickle cell disease patients was higher at 46.0±13.5 months compared to 29.2±15.4 months in the
non-sickle cell disease patients (p=0.005). The mean packed cell volume in subjects with sickle
cell anaemia was 8.8±1.5%; the only case of haemoglobin SC had packed cell volume of 20%,
while the non-sickle cell disease patients had a normal PCV. Malaria was present in 80.4% of
them.
CONCLUSION: Febrile convulsion remains a common cause of hospitalisation. It is
uncommon in haemoglobin SS where severe anaemia is always an accompanying derangement.
The packed cell volume is nearly normal in children with normal haemoglobin genotype.
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Keywords
Febrile Convulsion,, haemoglobin genotype,, children,, Malaria