Is There a Relationship Between Zinc and Febrile Seizures?

Febrile seizures, also referred to as fever fit or febrile convulsions, are typically set off by a sudden increase in body temperature. It a benign condition that is most commonly seen in younger children ranging between the ages of 3 months and 6 years. It is estimated that 2 to 5% of children in the United States are affected by febrile seizures. While many children outgrow this and do not require long-term treatment, a recent study in Acta Paediatrica suggests that zinc supplementation may be able to help febrile seizures. Children with febrile seizures usually present with generalized motor convulsions that last for short period of time. Children with a family history of febrile seizures or a mutation in different ion channels are also more susceptible to febrile seizures than others. Certain trace elements like zinc play a role in brain function and development and prevention of neurological diseases. Febrile seizures may also benefit from this. Zinc is found in foods rich in meat, eggs, seafood (especially oysters) and from non-animal sources (whole-grain cereals, wheat germ, nuts, and legumes). The investigators of this study found that low concentration levels of zinc in the blood and cerebral spinal fluid were found in children experiencing febrile seizures. So, finding suggests that zinc may play a role in preventing febrile seizures. Although the results of this study are interesting - don't run out and start giving your child zinc supplements just yet. We need more information about zinc and its relationship to febrile seizures in order to further explore this intriguing finding.