Serum zinc level: a prognostic marker for severe pneumonia in children

Abstract

Background: Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of under 5 mortality among children in developing countries. Zinc deficiency is postulated as cause of severe pneumonia, but evidences shows conflicting results on whether serum zinc levels predicts the severity of pneumonia. So prospective study was undertaken to study the relationship between serum zinc levels and severity of pneumonia in children with community acquired pneumonia.Methods: Fifty cases of pneumonia (group 1) and 50 cases of severe pneumonia (group 2) according to WHO classification were enrolled into the study. Demography, anthropometry and immunization status were recorded. A single zinc measurement was performed for all the patients within 24 hours of admission. The severity, clinical course including recovery to discharge was compared between two groups with respect to their serum zinc levels.Results: Mean (±SD) age group of the study population was 22 months±16.05 and 21.88 months±15.97 months in boys and girls respectively. Pneumonia was high in girls (59%) and children between 2 to <12 months had higher (36%) infection rate. Mean zinc level in pneumonia and severe pneumonia group were 68.69µg/dl±28.77 and 68.08µg/dl±27.55 respectively. There was no difference in the nutritional status (weight for height and height for age) of the study group. Serum Zn level was low in 56 % and 52% of pneumonia and severe pneumonia group respectively. Comparison of serum zinc levels between the ARTI groups did not achieve statistical significance (p=0.430). However, the duration of recovery is earlier than 1 week in pneumonia cases when compared to severe pneumonia patients (p<0.001, OR 1.375).Conclusions: Normal zinc levels was associated with early recovery in simple pneumonia patient, so study of serum zinc levels in severe pneumonia patients has prognostic value.

Tình Trạng Thiếu Kẽm Và Một Số Yếu Tố Liên Quan Ở Trẻ Viêm Phổi Tại Bệnh Viện Nhi Đồng Cần Thơ

“…Do đó thiếu kẽm vẫn còn là vấn đề phổ biến và rất đáng lưu ý ở trẻ em, nhất là nhóm trẻ dưới 5 tuổi [4]. Trẻ em bị viêm phổi có nồng độ kẽm huyết thanh giảm sẽ gia tăng thời gian nằm viện, tăng diễn biến chuyển nặng, các triệu chứng lâu thuyên giảm, thậm chí tử vong [5]. Ngoài ra, bổ sung kẽm đã được chứng minh có tác dụng hữu ích đối với sức khỏe trẻ em trên toàn thế giới [6].…”

Asupan protein, zink, dan defisiensi zink pada santriwati underweight

“…Santriwati sangat penting untuk mempersiapkan diri dari segi kecukupan gizi agar melahirkan generasi yang sehat dengan memperhatikan kesehatan reproduksi sehingga dapat menurunkan risiko kesakitan pada bayi dan kejadian berat bayi lahir rendah (BBLR) yang rentan terhadap penyakit [13]. Bayi yang lahir dengan kondisi kurang gizi akan berisiko kekurangan gizi saat dewasa sehingga perbaikan status gizi pada masa konsepsi sangat penting agar siklus malnutrisi intergenerasi ini terputus [14].…”

“…Bioavailabilitas zink yang rendah dapat terjadi karena pemilihan makanan yang tidak beragam dan adanya zat penghambat penyerapan zink seperti fitat, tanin, dan serat. Dampak dari defisiensi zink ialah gangguan reproduksi, pertumbuhan terhambat, gangguan kulit atau dermatitis, penyembuhan luka terganggu, dan penurunan daya tahan tubuh sehingga rentan terhadap penyakit infeksi [14]. Defisiensi zink memiliki keterkaitan dengan kejadian underweight.…”