Serum Zinc Levels in Children 1 - 59 Months of Age with Pneumonia: A Single-Center Surveillance in India from 2014 to 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate serum zinc levels in children with pneumonia according to the WHO criteria and compare them with age-, sex-, and nutrition-matched controls. Methods: The study was carried out in a pediatric tertiary care hospital from September 2014 to July 2016 after obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Children between 1 to 59 months of age admitted with pneumonia according to the WHO criteria were included as the case group (n = 50) and other non-pneumonia cases as the control group (n = 50). Various etiologies were analyzed, such as pneumonia, severe pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and viral infection-associated wheezing based on clinical and X-ray findings. Blood samples were collected for zinc estimation in both case and control groups. All children were investigated and treated as per our unit protocol for the particular condition. Results: Serum zinc level was significantly low in the case group (n- 31; 62%) compared to the control group (n- 9; 18%). The mean zinc level in the case group was 60.36 ± 29.23, and that of the control group was 80.54 ± 25.70, with a significant P value of 0.001. Conclusions: Serum zinc levels were significantly lower in children with pneumonia when compared to their age-, sex-, and nutrition-matched controls.