Serum Zinc Levels In Children Research Articles

Childhood asthma biomarkers including zinc: An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Childhood bronchial asthma (BA) is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease. Nutritional conditions, including zinc deficiency, can affect such allergic disorders. To outline the difference in serum zinc levels between asthmatic children and healthy controls. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Children's Hospital, Cairo University, investigating serum zinc levels in children with BA (n = 40) and healthy children (n = 21). Other markers included serum ferritin, iron, hemoglobin (Hb), and immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Independent t-tests and Mann-Whinny tests were used for comparisons. The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare serum ferritin and IgE levels with regard to asthma severity. Spearman's rank correlation was performed to explore the relationship between serum ferritin levels and both iron and Hb levels in asthmatic children. Children with BA had higher levels of zinc, yet the difference was not significant (P = 0.115). Serum ferritin and IgE levels were significantly higher in asthmatic children (P = 0.006 and 0.001, respectively), yet their levels did not differ significantly by severity (P = 0.623 and 0.126, respectively). There was a nonsignificant weak correlation between serum ferritin levels and both serum iron and Hb levels. Serum zinc levels do not seem to differ between asthmatic children and healthy children. Serum ferritin levels may be a marker of asthma control. Serum IgE levels are not markers of asthma severity.

Evaluation of Serum Zinc Level in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Evaluation of Serum Zinc Level in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Evaluation of Serum Zinc Levels in Children of 6 Months to 5 Years of Age Diagnosed with Simple Febrile Seizures

Background: Febrile seizures are defined as seizures associated with a febrile illness that developed without central nervous system infection or acute electrolyte imbalance, intoxication, trauma, and metabolic disorder in children aged 1 month to 5 years without previous afebrile seizures. Various studies show a relationship between zinc levels and febrile seizures. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between serum zinc levels and febrile seizures. Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted from 04/10/2021 to 04/02/2022. A total of 85 children aged 6 months to 5 years admitted to the pediatric emergency service of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital were included in the study. The patients who met the inclusion criteria and whose consent was obtained were included in the study. Complex and febrile status patients were not included in the study due to the small number of patients. The cases included in the study were divided into 2 groups of patients and healthy controls. The patients with fever were divided into 2 groups, including those with and without febrile seizures. The levels of zinc and complete blood count parameters were measured in the blood samples taken from all the patients. IBM SPSS 22 package software was used for the statistical examination of the data. Results: When the cases included in this study were divided according to gender, 33 (38.8%) and 52 (61.2%) patients were female and male, respectively. The mean age of the cases was 29.2 ± 15.9 months (range: 6 - 60). Of the 85 participating cases, 30 patients had febrile seizures, 30 were only febrile patients, and 25 were healthy controls. When zinc levels were compared between the groups, the plasma zinc levels of the febrile seizures and febrile groups were observed to be lower than the healthy control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In this study, the group consisting of patients with febrile seizures and the groups of patients who had a fever but did not have febrile seizures during the study had reduced serum zinc levels than the control group consisting of healthy patients without fever.

Correlation between serum zinc and brain injury in infants with mild gastroenteritis complicated with benign infantile convulsion and febrile convulsion

To investigate the association between serum zinc levels and convulsive brain injury in infants with mild gastroenteritis complicated with benign infantile seizures (BICE) and febrile seizures (FC). A case-control study method was conducted. 120 children with mild gastroenteritis and convulsion admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2020 to January 2022 were enrolled as the research subjects. They were divided into BICE group and FC group according to the type of convulsion. The serum zinc level, the frequency and duration of convulsion, and the occurrence of convulsive brain injury in the two groups were recorded. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors for convulsive brain injury. The Spearman correlation method was used to analyze the association between serum zinc levels, clinical characteristics of convulsion and convulsive brain injury. A total of 120 children were enrolled, of which 81 developed to BICE and 39 developed to FC during hospitalization. The serum zinc level of children in the FC group was significantly lower than that in the BICE group (μmol/L: 39.24±6.50 vs. 48.65±7.21, P < 0.01). In the BICE group and FC group, the serum zinc level in children with more than 2 convulsions was significantly lower than that in the children with one convulsion (μmol/L: 37.65±6.50 vs. 53.17±7.55 in the BICE group, and 30.27±5.58 vs. 44.16±7.57 in the FC group, both P < 0.01). Serum zinc level in children with convulsion duration ≥ 5 minutes was significantly lower than that in the children with convulsion duration < 5 minutes (μmol/L: 38.75±6.74 vs. 51.21±7.58 in the BICE group, and 31.08±5.46 vs. 45.19±7.25 in the FC group, both P < 0.01). Moreover, the serum zinc level of children with different convulsion frequency and duration in the FC group was significantly lower than that in the BICE group (all P < 0.01). Among the 120 children, 9 cases of convulsive brain injury occurred, and the incidence rate was 7.50%. The incidence of convulsive brain injury in the BICE group was 1.23% (1/81), which was significantly lower than 20.51% in the FC group (8/39, P < 0.01). The serum zinc level of children with convulsive brain injury was significantly lower than that of children with non-brain injury (μmol/L: 28.50±5.00 vs. 60.22±7.31, P < 0.01), and the number of convulsion was significantly higher than that of non-cerebral injury (≥ 2 convulsions: 100.00% vs. 1.80%, P < 0.01), and the duration of convulsion in children with brain injury was significantly longer than that of non-brain-injured children (convulsion duration ≥ 5 minutes: 100.00% vs. 11.71%, P < 0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that decreased serum zinc level [odds ratio (OR) = 2.147, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.354-3.403], increased number of convulsion (OR = 3.452, 95%CI was 1.266-9.417), and prolonged convulsion duration (OR = 3.117, 95%CI was 1.326-7.327) were independent risk factor for convulsive brain injury in children with mild gastroenteritis and convulsion (all P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum zinc level, convulsion ≥ 2 times, duration of convulsion ≥ 5 minutes and convulsion ≥ 2 times + convulsion duration ≥ 5 minutes were significantly negatively correlated with the occurrence of convulsive brain injury in FC children (r values were -0.546, -0.517, -0.522, and -0.528, all P < 0.01). There was no significant correlation between serum zinc level, convulsion ≥ 2 times, convulsion duration ≥ 5 minutes and convulsion ≥ 2 times+convulsion duration ≥ 5 minutes and convulsive brain injury in BICE children (r values were -0.281, -0.129, -0.201, -0.243, all P > 0.05). Serum zinc level is related to the characteristics of convulsive symptoms in children with mild gastroenteritis complicated with FC, and has a strong negative correlation with the occurrence of convulsive brain injury. Active targeted intervention and treatment may help reduce the incidence of brain injury in children.

Assessment of Serum Zinc Level in Relation to Different Presentation of Wilson Disease in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background:Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism with diverse clinical manifestations. Zinc (Zn) has been used for treatment of WD. Recent studies showed low serum zinc level in patients suffering from WD than the normal. Objective: This cross sectional observational study has been designed to compare the serum Zinc level in children suffering from different presentation of WD before started treatment. Methods: This work was carried out at the department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and nutrition, BSMMU, Dhaka between July’ 2018 to June2019. Total 27 children diagnosed as WD disease, aged between three to eighteen years were included in this study. The patients of WD were divided into four groups according to their presentation as acute hepatitis, decompensated liver disease, acute liver failure and Wilson disease with neurological manifestation. Informed written consent were obtained from all patients for participation in this study. Along with other physical findings and laboratory investigations 3 ml of venous blood were collected for estimation of serum Zinc level. After estimation of serum Zinc level results were analyzed statistically. The difference in serum zinc levels were compared between the groups. Results: Serum Zinc level was founded low in all Wilson disease patients (43.8 ±19.7 [13-83] µg /dl) compared to normal value (64-124µgm. /dl). Among the patients, Serum Zinc level was significantly lower in those who presented as CLD (18 cases, 38.4±17.4µg/dl) and acute liver failure (4 cases, 33.1±3.7µg/dl) compared to those presented as acute hepatitis (4cases, 71.8±4.3 µg/dl) and p value was 0.001 and &lt;0.001 respectively. Mean serum Zinc level was low in 4 patients suffering from acute liver failure (33.1±3.7µg/dl) but was not significant compared to those (23) who presented as Wilson disease non-ALF (45.7±20.8 µg/dl) (P= 0.013) and as Wilson disease CLD (38.4±17.4µg/dl) (p=.25). Conclusion: Serum Zinc level was lowered in patients of Wilson disease. Serum level of zinc was significantly low in patients presented as CLD and acute liver failure in comparison to patients with acute hepatitis. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2023; 41: 126-131

Serum zinc levels in children aged two months to five years in hospitalized children with pneumonia

Background: Pneumonia is the infection of the lung parenchyma which is one the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among under five age group. The prime aim of this study is to identify the severity and to supplement the children with factors that reduce the mortality caused by pneumonia, zinc being one of the major factors in the immune defense mechanism in reducing the severity and mortality. Our study estimates the amount of zinc in severe pneumonia child thereby to arrive at a rationale to supplement zinc among Pneumonia children to reduce the course of illness. The core objective of this study is to compare serum zinc level in children with severe pneumonia among different age and sex. Methods: A prospective case-control study was carried out with 50 cases and 50 controls in age group of 2 months to 5 years admitted in Government Cuddalore Medical College, Chidambaram. The study period ranges from December 2020 to December 2022. The cases are identified as per history thorough clinical examination and radiological evidence based on IMNCI criteria. All the children in both case and control group were subjected to serum-zinc level analysis after obtaining informed consent from the Parents. Zinc level in both groups were compared and analyzed. Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version-16 was used as a statistical tool. Ethical clearance has been obtained. Results: The mean serum zinc level in children admitted with pneumonia is 55.126 and the mean serum zinc level in controlled growth is 78.803. Zinc level is significantly lower in children with pneumonia. Conclusions: The estimated mean serum zinc levels in pneumonia group children confirms that there is a relative zinc deficiency in children with pneumonia and may play a role in the severity progression. Our study supports the need for zinc supplementation in pneumonia children to boost their immune defense mechanism which in turn reduces the severity and the progression of pneumonia. It tends to curtail the case fatality rate of pneumonia.

Zinc level and effect of zinc supplementation on growth in a subset of Sudanese children with sickle cell disease.

A case-control interventional study was conducted to determine serum zinc levels in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and to compare them to the levels in normal children and to the levels after 6 months of zinc supplementation. A total of 74 patients and 30 normal children, considered as controls for the zinc levels, were included. The clinical findings, including anthropometric measurements, were obtained. Serum zinc levels at the start and after 6 months, for the patients and at the start for the controls were measured. The mean age at enrolment and diagnosis were 7.5 ± 4.8 years and 5.5 ± 2.4 months, respectively. Male to female ratio was 1:1. Patients showed very low zinc levels at enrolment (0.268 ± 0.146 mg/l), while the controls had a mean zinc level at lower limits of normal (0.542 ± 0.087 mg/l) and a p-value of 0.04. After zinc supplementation, zinc levels in patients increased significantly with a p-value = 0.04. Zinc supplementation had positive effects on weight and height, with a p-value of 0.001 for both. The increase in body mass index and HC were not significant, with p-values of 0.058 and 0.067, respectively. Likewise, zinc supplementation had positive effects on the haematological indices as an increase in haemoglobin levels and a decrease of leucocyte counts, with p = 0.004 and 0.005, while the increase in platelet count was insignificant, p-value = 0.058. Furthermore, zinc supplementation decreased the frequency of hospitalisation significantly. We recommend considering zinc supplementation as one of the standard-of-care interventions in Sudanese children with SCD.

The Association of Intestinal Parasites with Serum Zinc Level among primary school Children in Iraq.

Zinc is an active element in the body and behaves as a co-factor for many enzymes, so the aim of this study was to investigate the association between intestinal parasites and serum zinc level in children in Iraq, and the effect of parasitie infections on the nutrition, growth, and physiology of host is still poorly understood.

Serum Zinc Level in Children Suffering from Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Relationship with Glycemic Control: An Experience from A Tertiary Level Specialized Diabetic Hospital in Bangladesh

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), Dhaka, Bangladesh, between July 2016 and June 2017, to evaluate serum zinc level and its relationship with glycemic control in type 1 diabetic children. A total of 160 participants (all aged between 1 and 18 years) were selected from the outpatient department (OPD) of BIRDEM General Hospital-2, Dhaka – 80 type 1 diabetic children as cases and 80 apparently healthy children as controls. We measured anthropometric parameters all study subjects. Serum zinc level was assessed using colorimetric method. Fasting plasma glucose level was estimated using enzymatic glucose-oxidase method. Glycemic control was evaluated through estimation of HbA1c using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method. The mean serum zinc levels were significantly lower in patient with type 1 DM compared to control (72.5±16.5 vs. 82.4±13.3 μg/dl; P&lt;0.001). Lower levels of zinc were found in subjects with poor glycemic control compared to good glycemic control (62.8±14.6 vs. 78.8±14.6 μg/dl; P&lt;0.001). Moreover, serum zinc levels were significantly lower in patients who have duration of diabetes mellitus for 5 years or more (P&lt;0.05). To summarize, serum zinc level is lower in type 1 diabetic children in comparison to its healthy counterpart and this lower zinc level is strongly associated with poor glycemic control which may potentially contribute to the early development of diabetic complications in children.&#x0D; CBMJ 2022 July: vol. 11 no. 02 P: 80-85

Determine the Deficiency of Serum Zinc Level in Children with Febrile Seizures

Aim: To determine the deficiency of serum zinc level in children presented with febrile seizures. Study design: Cross-sectional study Place and duration: Rai Medical College Teaching Hospital Sargodha from 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2021. Methodology: Total of 130 patients of ages 5 months to 5 years of both genders were included. Study participants were divided into group A and group B. Group A consist of 65 patients with febrile seizures and group B contained 65 patients having fever without seizures. Blood samples were collected for serum zinc examination and for the comparison between both groups. Results: There were 39(60%) males and 26 (40%) females in group A with mean age 28.25±12.6 months and 36 (55.38%) patients were males and 29(44.62%) were females with mean age 29.42±10.15 months in Group B. Significant difference between both zinc groups were noticed and the mean values were 59.50±12.88 µg/dl and 88.45±14.26 µg/dl respectively. Conclusion: Significant difference was observed and serum zinc level was significantly lower in febrile seizure children Keywords: Febrile seizures, Serum zinc level, Children

Serum zinc levels in pediatric patients with COVID-19.

Zinc has potent immunoregulatory and antiviral effects that are critical for growth, immunity, and neurologic development. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical significance of serum zinc levels in pediatric patients with COVID-19 and to demonstrate its association with disease severity. This prospective observational study was conducted between August 3 and November 15, 2020, in pediatric patients aged 1 month to 18 years with confirmed COVID-19 using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We defined a control group whose serum zinc levels were determined 1 year ago at the same time as those of patients with COVID-19. We used 70 μg/dL as the cut-off zinc value to define zinc deficiency. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS for Windows statistics package program. One hundred children with confirmed COVID-19 and 269 children in the control group participated in the study. The median age was 13.3 (IQR: 8–15.4) years in patients with confirmed COVID-19, 11 patients had low serum zinc levels, and 89 patients had normal serum zinc levels. Patients in the group with low zinc levels had a significantly higher hospitalization rate than the group with normal zinc levels (5 (45.5%) and 10 patients (11.2%), respectively) (p = 0.011). The median serum zinc level in patients with COVID-19 was 88.5 mcg/dL (IQR 77.2–100), which was significantly lower than the median level in the control group, which was 98 mcg/dL (IQR 84–111) (p = 0.001). There was no association between the severity of COVID-19 and the serum zinc levels of the children.Conclusion: Serum zinc levels may be influenced by many factors such as fasting status, diurnal variation, exercise, and sex, and may give an impression of the zinc status of the population rather than reflecting the individual. The fact that the incidence of hospitalization was significantly higher in patients with both COVID-19 and low serum zinc levels suggests that these patients require a detailed assessment of their living environment.What is Known:• Serum zinc levels have been found to be low in adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19.• There was a correlation between the severity of COVID-19 and serum zinc levels in adults.What is New:• Children with low serum zinc levels were found to have a higher number of hospitalizations.• No association was found between the severity of COVID-19 disease and serum zinc levels in children.

A study of serum zinc levels in children admitted with pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital in India

Background: Worldwide, pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age; especially, in developing countries. Objectives: The objective of the study is to investigate whether zinc deficiency and other nutritional factors are related to pneumonia in children between 6 months and 5 years old. Methodology: In this casecontrol study, a valid written consent was obtained from mothers of enrolled children. The cases included 75 children fulfilling the World Health Organization criteria for pneumonia, between the age group of 6 months and 5 years. They were interrogated for potential nutritional risk factors as per a predesigned proforma followed by a measurement of serum zinc levels. In the control group, 75 children of the same age group who were siblings of admitted children were included along with other children of the same age group admitted for non-respiratory complaints. A detailed case history was obtained and physical examination was done according to a predesigned proforma to elicit various potential risk factors. A semi-auto analyzer was used to measure the serum zinc levels through colorimetric methods using 5-bromo-PAS. Results: Significant nutritional risk factors identified were low serum zinc level, malnutrition, and anemia. Conclusion: The present study has identified various nutritional risk factors for pneumonia which can be tackled through effective education of the community and appropriate initiatives.

Serum zinc level in children with neurodevelopmental disease

Serum zinc level in children with neurodevelopmental disease

TO STUDY THE ZINC LEVELS IN ACUTE DIARRHOEA IN PAEDIATRIC AGE GROUP

INTRODUCTION: Diarrhoea is the major cause of mortality in India for children &lt;5 years of age. Association studies highlight the potential role of zinc in treatment of acute diarrhoea. Zinc deciency is responsible for 4.4% of childhood deaths in under-developed nations. However, zinc supplementation has been shown to be effective in decreasing the prevalence and incidence of diarrhoea. In this regard, we aimed to estimate the serum zinc levels in children suffering from acute diarrhoea AIMS: To assess the zinc levels in children with acute diarrhoea in paediatric age group. OBJECTIVES: To assess the severity of diarrhoea in association with zinc levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This Hospital Based Longitudinal Observational Study was done in the Department of Paediatrics at MMIMSR, Mullana over a period of one and a half year. Serum Zinc along with sodium, potassium and chloride levels were measured in cases of acute diarrhoea. RESULTS: In this study, the prevalence of zinc deciency in children with diarrhoea was 62% and was more prevalent in children &lt;5 years of age. There was a negative correlation (p value 0.009) between serum zinc levels and dehydration. A negative correlation (p value &lt;0.001) was also observed between zinc levels and sodium and chloride levels whereas levels of K did not show any signicant difference with mean zinc values.

Effect of Bacterial Diarrhoea on Serum Zinc Levels in Children with Special Reference to Different Bacterial Pathogens: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Diarrhoea significantly leads to morbidity and mortality in under-five children, particularly in developing countries. Reduced serum zinc levels in acute non infectious diarrhoea has an impact on the frequency, severity and duration. However, evidence is still evolving on the status of zinc level in bacterial diarrhoea. Aim: To assess serum zinc level in bacterial diarrhoea and compare the serum zinc level in children with the different bacterial pathogens. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Paediatrics at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, from August 2015 to February 2016, including 201 children aged 6 to 59 months with diarrhoea. Stool specimens were isolated for bacteria, using conventional culture techniques, while serum zinc levels were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum zinc level &lt;65 µg/dL was regarded as zinc deficiency. The data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19.0. Results: Out of 201, 58 (28.9%) of the children with diarrhoea had bacteria in the stool. The most common organism isolated was Escherichia coli (33,16.4%) followed by Salmonella (13, 6.5%). All of the children with positive stool culture, irrespective of the type of microbial agent, had zinc deficiency with significant association between infective diarrhoea and zinc deficiency (χ2 =15.437; p-value=0.004). Children with shigella diarrhoea had the lowest mean serum zinc level, compared to other bacterial agents (33.6±4.4 µg/dL, p-value &lt;0.001). Conclusion: Bacterial pathogens contribute significantly to the cause of diarrhoea in under-five Nigerian children, and are significantly associated with zinc deficiency. Thus, reinforcing the need for zinc supplementation and food fortification programs within the population, and maybe for longer in children with identified bacterial diarrhoea.

Comparison of Serum Zinc Levels in Children with Epilepsy and Febrile Convulsions

Comparison of Serum Zinc Levels in Children with Epilepsy and Febrile Convulsions

Evaluation of serum zinc level and IL-18 mRNA expression in children with pneumonia.

Pneumonia is currently one of the leading causes of death in children. Increased susceptibility to pneumonia may be due to their decreased immunity. One of the reasons for the decrease in immunity is zinc deficiency. In children with pneumonia, on the other hand, some cytokines are secreted, resulting in inflammation that spreads, persists, and makes treatment difficult for specialists. In this study, we investigated the serum zinc level in children with pneumonia and healthy children. Also, we tried to find its relationship with IL-18 mRNA expression as an inflammatory cytokine. For this purpose, serum zinc levels and IL-18 mRNA expression were evaluated in 120 children aged 3-60 months with pneumonia and 120 healthy children. After taking 2ml of blood from children and measuring serum zinc level, the level of the IL-18 mRNA was measured by real-time PCR. Total RNA was extracted by bioZOL™-G RNA Isolation Reagent kit. The primary cDNA was amplified by the extracted RNA, and in the next step, 2µl of cDNA were amplified by specific primers to measure IL-18 mRNA. The Beta-actin gene was also used as internal control and housekeeping gene. Results showed that the level of zinc in the patient group was 412.625±28.87?M and in the control group was 514.40±49.67?M. This difference was statistically significant (P=0.0053). Also, the expression of the IL-18 gene was increased in children with pneumonia, significantly (P=0.0015). Therefore, from the results, it can be deduced that children with zinc deficiency were at higher risk for a lung infection. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-18 also were increased in these children. Hence, it can be concluded that zinc levels can reduce the expression of IL-18 mRNA and play an important role in the prevention and treatment of children with pneumonia.

Hair Zinc content and its relation to Serum Zinc level in children with Idiopathic Epilepsy

Abstract Objective to measure the level of hair zinc, as well as its level in serum, in patients with epilepsy and compare them to the levels found in non-epileptic age and gender matched children, and to explore any potential correlation between either serum or hair level of magnesium and seizure characteristics in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Methods An observational cross-sectional study including 50 children with idiopathic epilepsy and 100 non-epileptic age and gender matched control subjects. Cases were subjected to full history taking, examination and measurements of serum and hair levels of zinc, control subjects only had their serum and hair level of zinc measured as for the cases. Results The mean serum zinc was 1.13 (0.61 - 1.69) ug/ml for cases and 1.81 (0.75 - 3) ug/ml for controls and the median hair level of zinc was 116.58 ug/g with IQR of 74.97 - 176.58 for cases and 143.64 ug/g with IQR of 95.22 - 178.28 for controls. Serum zinc level was significantly lower in cases compared to controls, but the difference was not statistically significant for hair zinc. No statistically significant correlation was observed between either hair or serum levels of zinc and seizure characteristics. Conclusion Serum zinc levels are reduced in epileptic patients compared to healthy age and gender matched controls. Hair zinc levels do not seem to be affected in idiopathic epilepsy. Studies involving larger numbers of patients are needed to confirm these results.

Is molluscum contagiosum related to zinc deficiency in children? Effectiveness of oral zinc sulfate therapy in lesion regression

Objectives: Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is viral skin infection that is most commonly observed in children. Zinc homeostasis is essential for proper immune function, especially in host–virus interactions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of oral zinc sulfate treatment in children with MC.Methods: The subjects included 23 children with MC and 30 age/sex-matched healthy children as controls. Children with MC received oral zinc sulfate for 2 mo, and serum zinc levels were measured before and after the treatment period. Patients were examined every 4 wk for evidence of partial or complete lesion regression. Lesion numbers were recorded before treatment and during follow up.Results: The mean serum zinc levels in children with MC did not differ from those in controls (80.57 ± 10.14 vs 81.90 ± 8.47 μg/dL, respectively, P = 0.370). After zinc sulfate supplementation, the mean serum zinc levels increased from 80.57 ± 10.14 to 100.5 ± 9.95 μg/dL (P < 0.001) in subjects with MC. After a 2-mo treatment period, six subjects exhibited resolution of lesions at the 1-mo follow up, 10 subjects at the 2-mo follow-up, and three subjects at the 3-mo follow up. Disease recurrence was not observed. A 6-y-old boy and two 4-y-old girls without other systemic symptoms had MC lesions that persisted after zinc sulfate therapy and throughout the 1-y follow up. One female subject experienced complete recovery in after treatment month 4, but recurrence was observed in month 7 and persisted for 18 mo.Conclusions: Our findings support the use of oral zinc sulfate as a therapy for children with MC.

Serum zinc levels in children hospitalized with pneumonia: A cross sectional study

Serum zinc levels in children hospitalized with pneumonia: A cross sectional study