Zinc as Adjunct Therapy in Neonatal Sepsis

Authors

  • Syed Mortaza Ali Resident Physician, Department of Paediatrics, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • Mujibul Hoque Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • Md Manajjir Ali Principle & Professor, Department of Neonatology, North-East Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • Md Noor Uddin Talukder Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Sheikh Hasina Medical College, Tangail, Bangladesh
  • Tanjina Chowdhury Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/medtoday.v32i2.48825

Keywords:

Neonatal sepsis, Immunity, Zinc

Abstract

Introduction:Altered zinc homeostasis is an important feature of pediatric sepsis, thus raising the possibility of zinc supplementation as a therapeutic strategy in neonatal sepsis, a major source of morbidity and mortality with few therapeutic options beyond antibiotics. Its objective was to find the role of zinc as adjunct therapy in neonatal sepsis.

Materials and Methods: This prospective, randomized double blind placebo controlled trial was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Sylhet M A G Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh during January 2013 to December 2014. A total 288 neonates with neonatal sepsis were enrolled. Group allocation to either zinc or placebo group was done by lottery method. Each packet contained 5 mg dispersible zinc sulphate or placebo. One packet dissolved in 2.5 ml expressed breast milk was given orally or through feeding tube.

Results: The age of the patients in zinc group and placebo group was 14.40 ± 6.49 days and 15.09 ± 7.18 days respectively. There were 49 (75.6%) male neonates and 16 (24.6%) female neonates in zinc group; while 50 (78.1%) neonates were male and 14 (21.9%) were female in placebo group. Clinical recovery was 61 (93.8%) and failure in 4 (6.2%) patients in zinc group; while clinical recovery was 59 (92.2%) and failure in 5 (7.8%) patients in placebo group. The mean clinical recovery time in zinc group was 104.20 ± 16.61 hours and that of control groups was 111.46 ± 19.43 hours.

Conclusion: Oral zinc as adjunct therapy shortens the clinical recovery time.

Medicine Today 2020 Vol.32(2): 112-116

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Author Biography

Syed Mortaza Ali, Resident Physician, Department of Paediatrics, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh

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Published

2020-08-29

How to Cite

Ali, S. M., Hoque, M., Ali, M. M., Talukder, M. N. U., & Chowdhury, T. (2020). Zinc as Adjunct Therapy in Neonatal Sepsis. Medicine Today, 32(2), 112–116. https://doi.org/10.3329/medtoday.v32i2.48825

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Original Articles