Serum Magnesium and Zinc Levels in Children with Febrile Seizures Admitted to a Paediatric Unit in Edo State

Electrolyte abnormalities including hypomagnesaemia and hypozincaemia have been proposed as contributory factors in febrile seizures in children, though the evidence base from Nigerian paediatric populations is still developing. This study determines serum magnesium and zinc concentrations in children with febrile seizures admitted to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo State, compared to febrile children without seizures. Sixty children aged six months to five years presenting with febrile seizures and sixty age-matched febrile children without seizures were enrolled. Venous blood was collected during the acute episode. Serum magnesium was measured by the xylidyl blue colorimetric method, and serum zinc by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum calcium, sodium, and glucose were also measured as confounding electrolyte parameters. Results show that serum magnesium was significantly lower in febrile seizure children (mean 0.61 mmol/L) compared to febrile controls (mean 0.86 mmol/L), with hypomagnesaemia present in 47 percent of seizure cases versus 12 percent of controls. Serum zinc was also significantly lower in the seizure group (mean 8.4 micromol/L) compared to controls (mean 14.7 micromol/L). Zinc deficiency, defined as serum zinc below 10.7 micromol/L, was present in 62 percent of seizure cases and 18 percent of controls. Serum calcium and glucose were not significantly different between groups. The data suggest that magnesium and zinc deficiencies may predispose children to febrile seizures and recommend their inclusion in the routine biochemical workup for febrile seizure patients. Keywords: febrile seizures, serum magnesium, zinc, children, Edo State.