Scholarlink

Introduction <p>Zinc plays a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immune responses by regulating intracellular signaling pathways in immune cells. Zinc deficiency has been implicated in up to 4.4% of infection-related deaths in developing countries. Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs), particularly pneumonia, are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young children which accounts for around 81% of deaths in the first two years of life.</p> Method <p>One hundred twenty children were enrolled in this study, divided in 2 groups: 60 critically ill children diagnosed with pneumonia and 60 apparently healthy controls. Their ages ranged from one month to four years. Serum zinc levels were measured and compared between both groups.</p> Results <p>Median serum Zinc levels were significantly lower in critically ill children (70 µmol/L; IQR: 57.5–79.5) compared to healthy controls (81µmol/L; IQR: 73.5–105.5; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). No significant association was found between zinc levels and mortality or need for mechanical ventilation. However, zinc levels showed significant negative correlation with CRP (<i>r</i>=-0.312, <i>p</i> = 0.015), temperature (<i>r</i>=-0.273, <i>p</i> = 0.035), and total leukocyte count (<i>r</i>=-0.268, <i>p</i> = 0.038). Multivariate regression analysis identified CRP as an independent predictor of serum zinc levels (β=-0.312, <i>p</i> = 0.015).</p> Conclusion <p>Zinc deficiency is associated with increased disease severity and inflammatory response in children with pneumonia but it does not independently predict ventilator requirement or mortality.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Serum zinc level in critically ill children with lower respiratory tract infection

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月15日

查看全文
  • Radwa Iraqy,
  • Mahmoud Hamdy,
  • Laila Hussein,
  • Nora Selim

摘要

Introduction

Zinc plays a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immune responses by regulating intracellular signaling pathways in immune cells. Zinc deficiency has been implicated in up to 4.4% of infection-related deaths in developing countries. Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs), particularly pneumonia, are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young children which accounts for around 81% of deaths in the first two years of life.

Method

One hundred twenty children were enrolled in this study, divided in 2 groups: 60 critically ill children diagnosed with pneumonia and 60 apparently healthy controls. Their ages ranged from one month to four years. Serum zinc levels were measured and compared between both groups.

Results

Median serum Zinc levels were significantly lower in critically ill children (70 µmol/L; IQR: 57.5–79.5) compared to healthy controls (81µmol/L; IQR: 73.5–105.5; p < 0.001). No significant association was found between zinc levels and mortality or need for mechanical ventilation. However, zinc levels showed significant negative correlation with CRP (r=-0.312, p = 0.015), temperature (r=-0.273, p = 0.035), and total leukocyte count (r=-0.268, p = 0.038). Multivariate regression analysis identified CRP as an independent predictor of serum zinc levels (β=-0.312, p = 0.015).

Conclusion

Zinc deficiency is associated with increased disease severity and inflammatory response in children with pneumonia but it does not independently predict ventilator requirement or mortality.