Severe zinc deficiency of premature newborns
Authors:
L. Hušková; Z. Tomšíková; V. Axmanová
Authors‘ workplace:
Neonatologické oddělení Perinatologického centra IP, Nemocnice České Budějovice, a. s.
Published in:
Čes-slov Pediat 2019; 74 (5): 280-283.
Category:
Case Report
Overview
We present two cases of premature newborns with a severe zinc deficiency. Both children were born in our department. At the time of hospital discharge they were breastfed exclusively and throve. There were no signs of dermatitis or any other illness. Between the 3rd and 4th month of chronological age both children presented skin lesions and a failure to thrive. Within a differential diagnosis we considered a low serum zinc level, which was confirmed. After oral zinc supplementation a rapid clinical improvement occured within a few days, followed by a complete resolution of symptoms.
Severe zinc deficiency can be caused by either genetic autosomal recessive disorder acrodermatitis enteropathica or acquired condition (e.g. transient zinc deficiency in an exclusively breastfed premature infant, short bowel syndrome, malabsorption syndromes etc.) [1, 2, 3]. The illness is manifested by skin lesions over the extremities, anogenital and perioral areas. Mucous parts of the body can also be affected, the intestine lesions lead to diarrhoea. Other clinical signs of severe zinc deficiency include recurrent infection based on immunodeficiency, alopecia, growth retardation, failure to thrive and other nonspecific symptoms [1, 2].
Keywords:
zinc deficiency – acrodermatitis enteropathica
Sources
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Labels
Neonatology Paediatrics General practitioner for children and adolescentsArticle was published in
Czech-Slovak Pediatrics
2019 Issue 5
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