Adjunctive Role of Elemental Zinc in Infants and Children with Severe Pneumonia

Abstract

Objective: To assess the adjunctive role of elemental zinc in infants and children hospitalized with severe pneumonia in terms of duration of remission of signs of severe pneumonia and hospital stay.

Study Design: Randomized controlled study.

Duration and place of study: The study was conducting in the department of Pediatric Medicine, Fauji foundation hospital, Rawalpindi from February 2026 till

May 2026.

Methodology: All infants and children with clinical diagnosis of pneumonia were enrolled. Group A (intervention group) received 10mg and 20mg daily of elemental zinc for children younger than 6 months and older than 6 months respectively, from the first day of treatment for 14 days along with standard treatment and Group B (control group) received standard treatment alone. Patients were monitored daily for the remission of signs till their discharge from the hospital. All the information was entered on the predesigned Performa and analyzed by using the SPSS 23 version.

Results: Duration of symptoms remission in the Zinc+ Standard care group & standard care alone group was (4.33±0.64 days vs 5.58±0.81 days, p=0.0001 respectively). The duration of hospital stay in the Zinc+ Standard care group & standard care alone group was (4.87±0.67 days vs 6.33±1.00 days, p=0.0001).

Conclusion: Zinc supplementation with standard care resulted in earlier remission of signs of severe pneumonia and shorten hospital stay in infants and children hospitalized with severe pneumonia.