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Zinc deficiency in exclusively breast-fed infants
Zinc deficiency in breast-fed infants is an important disorder. Unlike acrodermatitis enteropathica, it is transient and stops when nursing ends. We report two cases of premature infants, breast-fed only, who showed skin lesions resembling acrodermatitis enteropathica. Results of laboratory investigations revealed a lowered zinc level in the infants' serum and in the mothers' milk and a normal level of zinc in the mothers' serum. After the infants were given zinc supplements and their diets diversified, the skin lesions regressed and their serum zinc levels became normal.
Zinc deficiency in breast-fed infants is an important disorder. Unlike acrodermatitis enteropathica, it is transient and stops when nursing ends. We report two cases of premature infants, breast-fed only, who showed skin lesions resembling acrodermatitis enteropathica. Results of laboratory investigations revealed a lowered zinc level in the infants' serum and in the mothers' milk and a normal level of zinc in the mothers' serum. After the infants were given zinc supplements and their diets diversified, the skin lesions regressed and their serum zinc levels became normal.