Abstract
Dietary zinc deficiency is widespread in developing countries and is often aggravated by intercurrent acute and chronic infections. Recent studies have demonstrated that zinc supplementation can significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality of apparently well-nourished children and shorten the time to recovery from acute infectious diseases. This review summarises current knowledge of the role of zinc in childhood diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections and malaria, and its potential role in diseases associated with impaired cellular immunity, namely tuberculosis, lepromatous leprosy and leishmaniasis, and explores avenues for future research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 149-160 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Paediatrics and International Child Health |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2005 |
