A Case of Zinc Deficiency Dermatitis in Breast Milk Fed Infant Mimicking Atopic Dermatitis

Soo Young Choi; Hee Woo Lee; Hwa Young Park; Young min Ahn

doi:10.7581/pard.2012.22.2.204

Journal List > Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis > v.22(2) > 1033174

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Choi, Lee, Park, and Ahn: A Case of Zinc Deficiency Dermatitis in Breast Milk Fed Infant Mimicking Atopic Dermatitis

Case Report

Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease

Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease 2012; 22(2): 204-208.

Published online: 30 June 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7581/pard.2012.22.2.204

A Case of Zinc Deficiency Dermatitis in Breast Milk Fed Infant Mimicking Atopic Dermatitis

Soo Young Choi, MD, Hee Woo Lee, MD, Hwa Young Park, MD, PhD, Young min Ahn, MD, PhD

Department of Pediatrics, Eulji General Hostpital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author (aym3216@eulji.ac.kr)

Received 10 October 2011 Revised 27 November 2011 Accepted 5 January 2012

Abstract

Zinc deficiency can result from acrodermatitis enteropathica, an inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption, increased body loss, or intravenous feeding. Unlike acrodermatitis enteropathica, breast feeding-induced acrodermatitis is transient and improves when nursing ends. Breast feeding-induced acrodermatitis is caused by a ZnT-2 transporter dysfunction in the mother's mammary glands. We report a case of a 6-month-old male infant who presented with erythematous patches and plaques involving the perioral, perineal, and acral areas and loose stools since 2 weeks after birth. Atopic dermatitis was considered initially, but the lesions did not respond to topical antibiotics, corticosteroids, or maternal dietary restriction from allergenic food. The patient's serum zinc concentration was low, and the mother's serum and milk had low zinc levels. The differential diagnosis for atopic dermatitis is extensive. Physicians should be alert for the possibility of zinc deficiency dermatitis in breast milk fed infants that mimics atopic dermatitis.

Keywords: Zinc deficiency, Infant, Breast fed

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Skin lesions show erythematous patches and plaques involving the perioral, perineal and acral area.

Fig. 2

After 2 weeks of zinc supply, skin lesions show improving status.

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