Role of Zinc Supplementation in Treating Acute Respiratory Infection in ChildrenUnder 5 Years of Age

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of added zinc supplementation to standard treatment in

improving the course of acute respiratory infections (ARI) when compared with standard

treatment alone in children under 5 years of age

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pediatrics, Fauji foundation Hospital,

Rawalpindi from July -Dec 2024

Methodology: 120 patients were added to the study protocol divided into Group-A (n=60) to receive

zinc supplementation with standard anti-biotic therapy and Group-B (n=60) to receive only standard

antibiotic therapy. Primary variables measured were mean time to resolution of ALRI and clinical signs

and symptoms. Secondary outcomes were duration of hospital stay between both groups.

Results: Mean time to resolution of ALRI was 2.580.64 days versus 3.680.59 days between

both groups (p<0.001). Mean time to resolution of clinical variables of ALRI between both

groups showed that tachypnea resolved in 16.153.79 hours versus 24.083.87 hours between

both groups (p<0.001), fever resolved in 22.083.72 hours versus 29.054.80 hours (p<0.001),

chest findings of infection resolved in 16.583.82 hours versus 23.874.54 hours (p<0.001)

and chest findings of infection on radiology resolved in 16.533.69 hours versus 23.774.56

hours between both groups (p<0.001). Mean duration of hospital admission was 3.730.57

days versus 5.070.73 days (p<0.001).

Conclusion: We conclude that zinc supplementation added to standard antibiotic therapy in

children with acute lower respiratory infections reduces both the resolution time for infection

as well as the duration of hospital stay