Assessment of Serum Zinc Levels in Children Aged 2 Months to 5 YearsHospitalized with Pneumonia: A Prospective Observational Study

Background: Pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under fiveyears of age, especially in developing countries. Zinc, an essential micronutrient, plays a crucial role inmaintaining immune function. Deficiency of zinc has been associated with increased susceptibility to respiratorytract infections, including pneumonia. This study was conducted to assess serum zinc levels in children aged 2months to 5 years hospitalized with pneumonia.Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out in the Department of Paediatrics, Nalanda MedicalCollege and Hospital, Patna, Bihar, over a period of 12 months from July 2018 to June 2019. A total of 100children aged between 2 months and 5 years, admitted with clinically and radiologically confirmed pneumonia,were enrolled. Serum zinc levels were estimated within 24 hours of admission using atomic absorptionspectrophotometry. Children were categorized based on their zinc levels into normal and deficient groups, andcorrelations were made with the severity of pneumonia and clinical outcomes.Results: Out of the 100 children included, 64% were found to have low serum zinc levels (<70 μg/dL). Asignificant association was found between low zinc levels and increased severity of pneumonia. Children withzinc deficiency had a higher incidence of complications, longer hospital stays, and delayed recovery. The majorityof zinc-deficient children were below the age of two and belonged to lower socioeconomic groups.Conclusion: Serum zinc deficiency is highly prevalent among children with pneumonia and is associated withincreased disease severity and prolonged recovery. Routine screening for zinc levels and consideration of zincsupplementation may be beneficial in the management and prevention of pneumonia in young children.