14th ICID - Poster Abstracts - International Society for Infectious ...

When citing these abstracts please use the following reference:
Author(s) of abstract. Title of abstract [abstract]. Int J Infect Dis 2010;14S1: Abstract number.
Please note that the official publication of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases 2010, Volume 14, Supplement 1
is available electronically on http://www.sciencedirect.com
Final Abstract Number: 80.003
Session: Pediatric and Perinatal Infections
Date: Friday, March 12, 2010
Time: 12:30-13:30
Room: Poster & Exhibition Area/Ground Level
Type: Poster Presentation
Role of adjuvant zinc in the treatment of severe pneumonia in young children: A meta-analysis of
benefits and risks
R. Das 1 , M. Singh 2 , N. Gupta 2 , N. Shafiq 2
1 Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India,
2 Chandigarh, India
Background: Children with pneumonia have been found to have lower blood zinc levels as
compared to uninfected children. Even in well nourished children suffering from acute lower
respiratory infection, serum zinc levels have been found to be lower. A recent meta-analysis done
on preventive role of zinc in childhood respiratory illness found significant reduction in the
frequency and severity of respiratory illnesses. However no consensus has evolved for the
therapeutic role of zinc when used as an additive in treatment of severe pneumonia in young
children.
Methods: A comprehensive search was performed of the major electronic databases (e.g.,
CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL) till December 2008. Randomized controlled trials
comparing treatment with zinc versus placebo in children < 5 years with severe pneumonia until
discharge from hospital were included. Two reviewers independently applied eligibility criteria and
assessed the studies for methodological quality. Data were independently extracted by two
reviewers and analyzed using pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) or pooled odds ratio (OR)
with 95% CI. RevMan version 4.2 was used for all the analyses.
Results: Three Randomized controlled trials (India = 2; Bangladesh = 1) (Jadad’s quality score
4) including a total of 722 subjects were eligible for inclusion. There was no significant difference
between the two groups in the time of resolution of severe pneumonia, WMD 1.12 (95% CI -8.17,
10.41; p = 0.81). The duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter in the control group,
WMD 56.28 (95% CI 48.86, 63.70; p < 0.00001). No significant difference between the
intervention and control group was noted for, in the duration of resolution of tachypnea, chest
indrawing, fever and hypoxia. There was no report of any adverse events.
Conclusion: There is insufficient evidence to recommend zinc for the treatment of severe
pneumonia in young children < 5 years age. Further studies are required to determine whether
the findings are reproducible.