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Symptomatic zinc deficiency in breast‐fed premature infants
Author(s) -
MUNRO C.S.,
LAZARO CAMILLE,
LAWRENCE C.M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1989.tb08221.x
Subject(s) - erythema , zinc , medicine , breast milk , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , breast feeding , physiology , pediatrics , obstetrics , dermatology , pathology , biology , chemistry , micronutrient , biochemistry , organic chemistry
SUMMARY We report two breast‐fed premature infants who developed transient symptomatic zinc deficiency with scaly erythema of cheeks and napkin area, 9·13 weeks after birth. Serum zinc concentrations were 3·6 and 4·8 μmol/1, and the lesions healed rapidly in response to oral zinc supplements. Both mothers had low breast‐milk zinc levels (2·3 and 3·2 μmol/1 at 21 and 15 weeks respectively). The infants were both initially misdiagnosed as having eczema and infection. Premature infants are in negative zinc balance and though the additional factor of a low maternal breast milk zinc concentration may be necessary to provoke symptoms, rashes developing in such infants in the months following premature birth should raise the suspicion of zinc deficiency.