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A case-control study to assess whether giving zinc sulphate to children aged 2 to 59 months improved their clinical symptoms of pneumonia

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Dr. Baiju Kumar1 , Dr. Rakesh Kumar2 , Dr. N.P.Gupta3

Abstract

Abstract Aim: This study was investigating the effect of prescribing zinc sulphate on improving the clinical symptoms of pneumonia in 2 to 59 months of children’s. Methods: This Case-Control study was done the Department of Pediatrics, Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Laheriasarai, and Bihar, India for 2 years. Among 250 patients divided into two equal groups. 125 Children between the age of 2 months to 59 months and children with Acute Lower Respiratory Tract infection were included in case group and 125 children for control group. The details of blood investigations and imaging for confirmation of clinical diagnosis were also noted during the stay of the patient in the hospital. The serum zinc estimation was done by using colorimetric test. Results: The mean age of cases was 1.73±1.54 yrs and that of controls was 1.87±1.75 yrs. The Sex wise distribution of the cases and controls consisted of 74(59.20%)of cases being male and 51(40.80%) being female as compared to 69(55.20%) of controls being male and 56(44.80%) being female. The Mean serum zinc levels in the cases and controls, after comparison, were found to be significantly different [p=0.0001], with mean value for the cases being 57.78 ± 11.73 ug/dl as compared to 84.22 ± 12.89 ug/dl for the controls. A total of 31 cases and controls (24.80%) were found to have deficiency of zinc, of which majority (88.80%) were cases (normal range of 60 to 150ug/dl). Severe Pneumonia group (Mean=40.15± 5.88 ug/dl) having significantly lower value than that of Pneumonia group (Mean=62.97±6.81 ug/dl). Conclusion: No overall effect on the duration of hospitalization or of clinical signs associated with severe infection in young children hospitalized for severe pneumonia in southern India.

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