Abstract
Zinc deficiency is highly prevalent in low-income countries, with dramatic consequences to child health, in particular by impairing the immune system resulting in infection. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency in Thai children who were admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of the dengue viral infection. Standard cut-off values according to age, sex, time of blood collection, and fasting status were used to define zinc levels. 32 patients were included in the analysis: The mean age was 7.3 years, of whom 56.3% were males. 11 (34.4%) patients were diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever and the remaining had dengue fever. The prevalence of zinc deficiency was 46.7%, with boys having a higher risk of zinc deficiency than girls (OR=7.3: 95%CI: 1.5-36.6). Fever duration and length of hospital stay were longer in children with zinc deficiency compared to those who had normal levels, albeit without a significant difference. The results of this study provide the rationale for larger studies that will better elucidate the relationship between zinc levels and the clinical outcomes of dengue disease.
Highlights
Patients were diagnosed with dengue heml orrhagic fever and the remaining had ia dengue fever
It has been shown that low serum zinc levels were significantly different in dengue infection with an increasing clinical severity,[14] whereas another study found a Conflict of interest: the authors declare no conflict of interest
It should be noted that children who we considered as having normal zinc levels had a mean zinc concentration of 83.3 μg/dL, a value below the cut-off used by Yuliana et al.[14]
Summary
Patients were diagnosed with dengue heml orrhagic fever and the remaining had ia dengue fever. Fever duration and length of hospital stay were longer in m children with zinc deficiency compared to those who had normal levels, albeit without m a significant difference. The results of this o study provide the rationale for larger studies c that will better elucidate the relationship - between zinc levels and the clinical outn comes of dengue disease. Dengue disease is a leading cause of mortality in children younger than 15 years in South and South-East Asia.[13] The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that more than 2.5 billion people are at risk of dengue infection.[13] The relationship between zinc levels and disease severity has been investigated, but current data are controversial.
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