Blood zinc levels in children hospitalized with severe pneumonia: a case control study

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutritional Science
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Severe pneumonia is a leading cause of child mortality globally.
• Zinc deficiency is prevalent in many developing countries and is linked to impaired immune function.
• Understanding risk factors for severe pneumonia is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare blood zinc levels in children with severe pneumonia and matched controls.
• To identify factors associated with severe pneumonia in children.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted in North India involving 50 children aged 2 months to 5 years with severe pneumonia and 50 matched controls.
• Blood zinc levels were measured.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors.
• Nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed for bacterial isolation.

Main Results:

• Mean blood zinc levels were significantly lower in children with severe pneumonia (376.1 ug/dL) compared to controls (538.52 ug/dL) (P=0.0003).
• Severe pneumonia was associated with lower blood zinc levels, biomass fuel use, and isolation of Haemophilus influenzae.
• Cotrimoxazole-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from 95% of cases versus 41.2% of controls (P=0.0004).

Conclusions:

• Lower blood zinc levels are associated with severe pneumonia in children.
• The findings suggest a potential role for zinc in the pathogenesis or susceptibility to severe pneumonia.
• Further research is recommended to investigate the therapeutic role of zinc in severe pneumonia management.