Role of Zinc in Recurrent Acute Lower Respiratory Infections
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2008-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the most frequent illnesses globally. Despite
advances in the recognition and management ARIs, these account for over 20% of all child
deaths globally.Trace mineral deficiencies have long been implicated in causation and
consequences of many diseases. The importance of adequate zinc intake in human health is well
documented and zinc deficiency is a large public health problem, especially among children in
developing countries.Various studies suggest that zinc-deficient populations are at increased
risk of developing diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory tract infections and growth
retardation.Among the individual interventions zinc supplementation with universal coverage
ranks 5th in preventing under five mortality in India, preceded only in order by breast
feeding; complementary feeding; clean delivery; Hib vaccination; and clean water, sanitation
and hygiene.Numerous studies have examined the association between child mortality and zinc
deficiency. A number of randomized controlled trials evaluating effect of zinc
supplementation have found the intervention to be beneficial in reducing ARI and diarrhoeal
mortality and morbidity but few studies have found beneficial effect in diarrhea and no or
even contrasting effects on morbidity pattern of acute respiratory infections. Whereas role
of zinc in diarrhea is now a well established and specific guidelines and recommendations
have been given for zinc supplementation in diarrhea, role of zinc in acute respiratory
infections is controversial. The contrasting effect of zinc on diarrhoea and acute lower
respiratory infection as reported in several studies is a public health concern, because zinc
supplementation is carried out in many nutrition rehabilitation units. Further in many of
randomized control trials supplement syrups also contained other vitamins, including vitamin
A, known to have effect on respiratory morbidity. Most of the trials evaluating effect of
zinc on respiratory morbidity and mortality are community based and children with well known
causes of recurrent acute lower respiratory infections have not been excluded from the study
pool.
Hence the current study was planned to bridge this gap of information and attempts to detect
the role of zinc using "zinc only preparations" in reducing respiratory morbidity in children
aged 6 to 59 months with recurrent acute lower respiratory infections.