The Effect of Zinc Supplementation On Resolution Of Symptoms In Pediatric Pneumonia

Abstract

Objective: To compare the mean duration of resolution of pneumonia in pediatric patients (from 2 months to five years) using zinc as an adjuvant therapy to those receiving only standard treatment of pneumonia.
Methods: It is a randomized control trial that has been carried out at the Department of Pediatrics, Hameed Latif Teaching Hospital, Lahore. The study involved 60 children (30 in each group), within the age bracket of 2 months to 5 years. Informed written consent was obtained from parents. Children were randomly divided by using the lottery method into groups “A” and “B”. Group A received zinc supplementation as adjuvant therapy in addition to age-appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Group B received age-appropriate antimicrobial therapy only. The duration of the resolution of pneumonia was recorded from the commencement of therapy until the resolution of symptoms.
Results: The mean age of all the children was 2.75 ± 1.40 years. The mean age of cases in group A was 2.87 ± 1.41 years and the mean age of cases in group B was 2.63 ± 1.40 years. There were 16(53.33%) male cases and 14(46.67%) female cases in group A. In group B there were 18(60%) male and 12(40%) female cases. The mean duration of recovery time in group A was 3.80 ± 0.66 days and the mean duration of recovery in group B was 6.30 ± 0.75 days. The mean duration of recovery time was statistically less in group A as compared to group B, p-value < 0.05.
Conclusion: We conclude that the mean duration of resolution of pneumonia in patients under five years of age was significantly less in the zinc group as an adjuvant therapy when compared with those receiving only standard treatment of pneumonia. Hence, adding zinc can reduce the hospital stay which will surely reduce the related cost while enhancing parents’ and physicians’ satisfaction.