title: Oral zinc and common childhood infections--An update.
abstract: Zinc is an essential micronutrient important for growth and for normal function of the immune system. Many children in developing countries have inadequate zinc nutrition. Routine zinc supplementation reduces the risk of respiratory infections and diarrhea, the two leading causes of morbidity and mortality in young children worldwide. In childhood diarrhea oral zinc also reduces illness duration and risk of persistent episodes. Oral zinc is therefore recommended for the treatment of acute diarrhea in young children. The results from the studies that have measured the therapeutic effect of zinc on acute respiratory infections, however, are conflicting. Moreover, the results of therapeutic zinc for childhood malaria also are so far not promising.This paper gives a brief outline of the current evidence from clinical trials on therapeutic effect of oral zinc on childhood respiratory infections, pneumonia and malaria and also of new evidence of the effect on serious bacterial illness in young infants.
authors.affiliation: Child Health Department, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal; Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: sudhacbasnet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basnet
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromso, Norway.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathisen
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Division of Laboratory Medicine, Sykehuset Innlandet, Lillehammer, Norway.
authors.forename: Tor A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Strand
mesh_terms: D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003906:Developing Countries; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc
keywords: Childhood infections; Zinc