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

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.