The Relation Between Serum Zinc Level and Iron Profile to Community Acquired Pneumonia in Pediatrics

Abstract

ommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most severe form of an acute respiratory infection, accounting for 80% of all deaths from acute respiratory infections and 20% of all deaths in children. Inadequate nutrition and acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) are overlapping and interrelated health problems affecting children in developing countries. Several studies have suggested that zinc supplementation prevents about one-quarter of episodes of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI), which may translate into a modest reduction in (ALRI) mortality in children. Iron deficiency anemia in children occurs most frequently between the age of 6 months and 3 years, the same period of age when repeated respiratory infections occur, some studies have suggested that improving the nutritional status in children by preventing low hemoglobin might influence the outcome of children with ALRTI. The present study was designed to assess the relation between serum zinc and iron profile to community acquired pneumonia as regard; occurrence, short term morbidity and mortality in children. The study was conducted at outpatient clinic and emergency room, children's hospital, Ain Shams University.