Study of Serum Zinc Levels in Egyptian Children with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection

Abstract

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION A cute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) predominantly pneumonia is a substantial cause of mortality and morbidity in children less than five years of age. In developing countries an estimated 146-159 million per year new episodes of pneumonia are observed. With many factors being involved in the etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infection, out of those of being preventable, it has been known that zinc has an important role especially in developing countries. This case control study aimed to assess the Serum Zinc status in children suffering from acute lower respiratory infection and to evaluate the relationship between Serum zinc status and severity of acute lower respiratory infection. This study carried out in, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University, from November 2014 to October 2015. Included thirty Egyptian children with acute lower respiratory tract infections diagnose according to The World Health Organization definition, less than five years old and of both sexes. (Case group) and thirty healthy Egyptian children age and sex matched with the patient’s group taken from surgical clinic. They will include as a healthy control (Control group). Children with diarrhea, allergic diseases, asthma or those with known zinc supplementation intake prior to admission for current illness were excluded They were both exposed to the same history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Estimation of serum zinc levels was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (ASS). Estimation of CD3, CD4 and CD8 was performed by flow-cytometer. Then collected data were reviewed, coded, and entered PC where statistical analysis was done using SPSS (statistical package for social science) which revealed that: There was a statistically significant difference between case group and healthy control group as regards zinc level, being lower among case group. There were Negative relation between serum zinc level & Grading of severity of acute chest infection. There was positive significant correlation between zinc level & {Wt. for age and Oxygen saturation} in case group. There was negative significant correlation between zinc level & {Temperature and c –reactive protein} in case group. There were Negative relation between serum zinc level & {Chest X-ray finding, Clinical features of zinc deficiency and site of Admission} in case group. There was Positive relation between Nutritional history and serum zinc level. We concluded that, the mean serum zinc level in our patients was low; the mean serum zinc level in patients was lower than that of control. We also concluded that there are Negative relation between serum zinc level & Grading of severity of acute chest infection.