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Zinc and infection: a review
1Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK. lcuevas@liv.ac.uk
Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
|September 15, 2005
Summary
Zinc supplementation can significantly reduce illness and death in children, especially those with infections. This review explores zinc
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Immunology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Dietary zinc deficiency is a major public health issue in developing nations.
- Infections, both acute and chronic, exacerbate zinc deficiency.
- Zinc plays a critical role in immune function and overall child health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of zinc's role in childhood infections.
- To examine the impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity and mortality.
- To explore future research directions for zinc in pediatric diseases.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent scientific literature.
- Analysis of studies on zinc supplementation in children.
- Focus on infectious diseases including diarrhea, respiratory infections, and malaria.
Main Results:
- Zinc supplementation significantly reduces morbidity and mortality in children.
- Supplementation shortens recovery time from acute infectious diseases.
- Evidence suggests a role for zinc in managing infections like tuberculosis and leprosy.
Conclusions:
- Zinc supplementation is a vital intervention for improving child health in deficient populations.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate zinc's therapeutic potential in various infectious and immune-compromising diseases.
- Addressing zinc deficiency is crucial for combating childhood infections globally.