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Serum zinc levels in hospitalized children with pneumonia: a hospital-based case–control study

Abstract

Background

Zinc is an important micronutrient in humans. Globally, pneumonia represents 18% of mortality in children under 5 years of age and the main infectious purpose of early life mortality. There is a higher pneumonia risk in a population with zinc deficiency. The aim of our study is to compare the level of serum zinc in children with pneumonia with age, sex, and nutritional matched healthy controls.

Patients and methods

Serum zinc level in 90 children admitted with pneumonia was compared with the matched controls.

Results

The mean level of serum zinc in children with pneumonia (67.5±21.8) is significantly lower than that of controls (91.8±19.94) with (P<0.001).

Conclusion

Children with pneumonia has a significantly lower serum zinc levels than matched healthy controls.

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Correspondence to Hamada K. Fayed MD.

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Hamed, A.M.M., Kassem, Y.T., Fayed, H.K. et al. Serum zinc levels in hospitalized children with pneumonia: a hospital-based case–control study. Egypt J Bronchol 13, 730–737 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejb.ejb_30_19

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