Effect of Zinc Supplementation in Children with Severe Pneumonia: A Randomised Controlled Study
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research - Year 2018, Vol 12, Issue 11
Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction: Pneumonia is one of the leading cause of mortality among children under five years of age globally and responsible for 18 % of all deaths. Zinc is thought to help in decreasing the susceptibility to acute lower respiratory infections by regulating various immune functions. Aim: To evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on clinical resolution, duration of hospital stay and recurrence in next three months in children with severe pneumonia. Materials and Methods: This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in the Department of Paediatrics of a tertiary care hospital, where in a total of 560 children, aged 2-60 months, admitted with the diagnosis of severe pneumonia {according to WHO case definition i.e., fever, cough, fast breathing (respiratory rate ≥50/minute in 2-12 month and ≥40/minute in 1-5 years of age) and lower chest indrawing}, between November 2013 to October 2015, were included in this study. Subjects were randomised blindly into zinc and placebo group in 1:1 ratio. Zinc or placebo supplementation was given (10 mg in 2-6 months and 20 mg in 7-60 months of age) orally daily once for two weeks, to each child according to randomisation. Outcome measures were calculation of time taken for clinical resolution of pneumonia, duration of hospital stay in completed days and counting the number of episodes of pneumonia in the next three months from the date of admission. Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel 2007. Outcome measures were compared between zinc and placebo group by calculating p-value (p-value <0.05 was taken as significant), odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Other variables were analysed by calculating mean, standard deviation and p-value. Results: When compared among zinc group and placebo group, zinc group showed significant acceleration in clinical resolution of pneumonia (p=0.042) and reduction in the duration of hospital stay (p=0.035). However, zinc supplementation and recurrence of pneumonia showed no significant association (p=0.52). Conclusion: Zinc supplementation can be considered in the treatment of severe pneumonia in children to accelerate the clinical resolution and thereby to reduce the hospital stay. However, zinc supplementation has no role in the prevention of pneumonia in next three months.
Authors and Affiliations
Aditi Baruah, Hiranya Saikia
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP526150
- DOI 10.7860/JCDR/2018/37215.12277
- Views 55
- Downloads 0
Adult Survival in Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome with Common Atrium – A Rare Case Report
Ellis-van Creveld syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, characterized by chondral dysplasia, ectodermal dysplasia, polydactyly and congenital heart defects. Patients with this syndrome rarely survive into adulthood. The s...
Efficacy of Structured Yoga Intervention for Sleep, Gastrointestinal and Behaviour Problems of ASD Children: An Exploratory Study
Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neuro developmental disorder which appears at early childhood age between 18 and 36 months. Apart from behaviour problems ASD children also suffer from sleep and Gastroin...
Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Study at a Tertiary Hospital
ABSTRACT Introduction: The rising incidence of diabetes, worldwide, has necessitated an evaluation of diabetes impacts on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). The recognition of risk factors that lower HRQoL can impro...
Assessment of Insulin Resistance in Ultrasonographically Diagnosed Cases of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
ABSTRACT Introduction: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the excessive accumulation of fat primarily in form of triacylglycerols in more than 5% of the hepatocytes without significant consumption of alcohol an...
Letter to the Editor: “Umbilical Pilonidal Sinus: A Report of Two Cases and Recent Update of Literature”
Letter to the Editor