Using zinc sulfate to improve pneumonia symptoms in children under 5 years of age: A case control study

Abstract

Background: According to World Health Organization (WHO), Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. Pneumonia is considered as the most important infection-induced cause of child mortality. Aim: To investigate the effect of prescribing zinc sulfate on improving the clinical symptoms of pneumonia in 2-59 months old children. Materials and Methods: This case control study was performed on 120 children with age of 2-59 months and complaining of fever, coughs, and tachypnea. The patients were randomly assigned into control (n=60), and intervention (n=60) using double blinding method. In the control group placebo was prescribed, while the intervention group received oral zinc sulfate 10 mg (1 ml/ kg in children younger than 12 months, and 20 mg/kg every 12 hours for children of 13-59 months. During hospitalization, every 12 hours the clinical symptoms of both groups including tachypnea, duration of fever, coughs, intercostal retraction, hypoxia, crackles-wheezing, and duration of hospitalization were recorded. At the beginning and end of the treatment, two blood samples were taken for determining the serum level of zinc. Results: The findings indicated that the serum level of zinc sulfate after the intervention increased significantly in the intervention group. There was a significant difference in the duration of fever and tachypnea between the intervention and control groups 36 hours post-hospitalization. Conclusion: Supplemental administration of zinc can expedite the healing process and results in faster resolution of clinical symptoms in children with pneumonia.