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Symptomatic zinc deficiency in a premature infant
Author(s) -
WEYMOUTH ROBERT D.,
KELLY ROBERT,
LANSDELL BARRY J.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1982.tb02031.x
Subject(s) - acrodermatitis enteropathica , medicine , zinc , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , acrodermatitis , irritability , breast milk , etiology , breast feeding , physiology , endocrinology , pathogenesis , rash , pediatrics , menopause , micronutrient , pathology , biology , biochemistry , materials science , alternative medicine , metallurgy
. A 3‐month‐old premature breast fed infant developed symptomatic zinc deficiency manifested by rash identical to that of acrodermatitis enteropathica, diarrhoea, irritability and poor weight gain. Deficient maternal breast milk zinc secretion was demonstrated. This was not related to maternal dietary zinc deficiency and was associated with normal maternal plasma zinc levels. No change in maternal plasma or breast milk zinc occurred with maternal zinc supplementation, suggesting that the aetiology of the low breast milk zinc was a primary defect in mammary gland zinc secretion. A rapid clinical response and return of plasma zinc to normal occurred with oral zinc treatment. Zinc therapy was ceased at 9 months of age without recurrence of symptoms or hypozincaemia. Four similar infants have been reported previously suggesting a common pathogenesis.