Correlation between serum Zinc and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels severity of clinical presentation in children with Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (ALRI)

Abstract

Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) is a substantial cause of mortality and morbidity in children less than 5 years of age. ALRI is one of the major reasons for which children are brought to the hospitals and seek health facilities. Pneumonia was responsible for about 18% of all under 5 year death in India. Zinc (Zn) is a trace element with demonstrable effect on immune mediated production of interferon. Low zinc levels not only impairs the immunity but it also enhances the infection along with a reduction in the clearance of infectious agents. Hence present study was undertaken with intention to assess the serum zinc levels in children suffering from pneumonia. Study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) of the college and written informed consent was taken from all children parents/guardians before conducting the study. Study comprises sixty children with clinically diagnosed pneumonia (according to WHO criteria) and sixty were healthy controls of the age group between six months to five years. Under aseptic precaution 2mL of venous blood was drawn and used for estimation of zinc by NITRO-PAPS method and CRP by immunoturbidimetric method . There was significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum zinc levels and significant increase in CRP levels in pneumonia children compared to healthy children. Serum zinc levels goes on decreases with severity of the disease hence it was negative correlation.