Abstract
Background: Pneumonia in children causes 30% of deaths worldwide, and the role of zinc as a micronutrient in treating pneumonia is unclear. Zinc improves immune system function and deficiency increases infectious disease risk and growth. This study aims to determine zinc serum levels in children hospitalized with pneumonia and compare them with those without pneumonia. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 100 children aged 1 to 59 months between January and July 2022. 50 children were admitted to Urmia Motahari Hospital in Iran with pneumonia, while 50 other children were studied as a control group. Zinc levels were measured in two groups, and the data was analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The study found that the average zinc level in the case group was 67.35 ± 42.03, while in the control group it was 93.26 ± 41.80. The control group had a significantly higher zinc level. Hospitalization for more than 10 days was significantly lower than hospitalization for less than 10 days. Patients with complications had lower serum zinc levels, with significant differences in empyema, pleural effusion, and ventilation. Patients with wheezing, stridor, cyanosis, sleep disorder, and lethargy also had lower zinc levels. Conclusion: The average level of zinc in children with pneumonia was significantly lower than the control group.
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