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Serum zinc and copper levels in children with meningococcal disease
Insights
Meningococcal disease in children is linked to lower serum zinc and copper levels. Lower zinc and copper concentrations correlate with disease severity and poorer outcomes in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Clinical Microbiology
Background:
- Meningococcal disease is a serious infection in children.
- Trace element levels, specifically zinc and copper, may be altered during severe infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum zinc and copper levels in children with meningococcal disease.
- To determine the correlation between these trace elements and disease severity.
Main Methods:
- Serum zinc and copper levels were measured in 94 children diagnosed with meningococcal disease.
- Levels were compared to reference values and correlated with clinical manifestations of severity.
Main Results:
- Children with meningococcal disease showed depressed mean serum zinc (44 µg/dl) and near-normal mean serum copper (157 µg/dl) levels.
- Significantly lower serum zinc and copper levels were observed in patients with severe disease, including sepsis, shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
- Elevated copper levels were noted in less severely ill patients with meningitis.
Conclusions:
- Serum zinc and copper levels are altered in pediatric meningococcal disease.
- Depressed zinc and copper levels are associated with severe disease manifestations and adverse outcomes.
- Trace element monitoring may offer insights into disease severity in pediatric meningococcal infections.
Abstract:
Mean serum zinc and copper levels were depressed in 94 children aged 1 month to 9 years who presented with meningococcal disease. The mean serum zinc level was 44 micrograms/dl (reference value 78 micrograms/dl, SD 18) and the mean serum copper level 157 micrograms/dl (reference value 159 micrograms/dl, SD 27). Nineteen patients had serum zinc levels less than 25 micrograms/dl and ten patients had serum copper levels less than 101 micrograms/dl. Serum zinc levels were significantly lower in patients who were septicaemic or in whom manifestations of severe disease such as shock, more than 20 petechiae, ecchymoses and evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred compared to those without these features. Serum copper concentrations were higher than reference levels in patients with meningitis and in less severely ill patients. Copper levels were significantly lower in patients with septicaemia, severe disease, shock, more than 20 petechiae, ecchymoses, disseminated intravascular coagulation, leucopenia and patients who died compared with patients without these features.