DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i01.053

Pages: 267-271

Worldwide pneumonia is leading cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality WHO has estimated that each year pneumonia kills up to 2.4 million children, which accounts for 19% of all deaths in the under-five age group. The incidence of pneumonia is more than 10-fold higher and the number of childhood-related deaths due to pneumonia approximately 2000-fold higher in developing countries than in developed countries. Approximately 95% of the pneumonia related deaths occur in developing countries and the youngest age group has the highest risk of death. India contributes nearly 20%. The aim was to study the effect of zinc as an adjuvant therapy on recovery from pneumonia. Children in the age group 2-24 months presenting with features of pneumonia as per IMNCI guidelines were included. Eligible children were allotted to zinc (n=21) groups. Zinc group received 20 mg of elemental zinc per day. Outcome was measured in terms of time taken for resolution of distress, time to become asymptomatic and duration of stay. The mean time for resolution of distress was less in zinc group. It was 52.4 hrs in zinc and 74.4 hrs in non zinc (p=0.053). The mean time to became asymptomatic was 65.5 hrs in zinc and 88.0 hrs in non zinc (p=0.053). The mean duration of stay was 6.1 days in zinc and 7.14 days in non zinc (p=0.368). The results suggest that adjuvant treatment with zinc accelerates recovery from pneumonia.