ACUTE LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION

THERAPEUTIC ROLE OF ZINC IN PATIENTS

Abstract

Zinc is an essential rnicronutrient with catalytic role in over a hundred specific
metabolic enzymes in human metabolism regulates the expression of the metallothionein
gene, apoptosis and synaptic signaling and needed for many aspects of immune system. Thus
the zinc ‘supplementation in patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections might have
potential benefits. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of zinc supplementation in patients
with acute lower respiratory tract infections. Study design: Quasi experimental study. Setting:
Study was conducted in the pediatrics department Independent hospital Faisalabad; the indoor
patients meeting the inclusion criteria from 26th January to 25th July 2013 were included in
study. Material and methods: 100 children meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the
study which were divided into two groups with random allocation i.e. Group A (Odd number)
& Group B (Even number). Group A was given zinc supplementation 20mg of elemental zinc
for 14 days. Along with antimicrobials, oxygen and antipyretics for fever while 50 children
in Group B were given with antimicrobials. Oxygen and antipyretics for fever without zinc.
Results: Baseline clinical parameters were comparable in both groups at admission. Outcome
measures considered were duration of fever, tachypneoa, chest indrawings and total duration
of hospital admission. Effect of zinc supplementation is significant with p-value of less than 0.05
for duration of tachypnoea and chest indrawings and total duration of hospital admission while
result showed p-value equal to 0.05 that is just significant for duration of fever.