To identify factors that influence serum zinc concentrations in children with acute gastroenteritis.

Thirty-two children under 5 years of age (15 boys and 17 girls) were selected randomly among those who visited to an pediatric emergency room of Ehwa Womans University Mokdong Hospital with acute gastroenteritis from May to August 2005. This study estimated the association between serum zinc concentrations and clinical, biochemical variables in patients with acute gastroenteritis.

Serum zinc concentration was lower in febrile patients than afebrile patients with acute gastroenteritis (67.0±25.3 vs 85.5±14.2, p<0.05). It also was lower in patients with positive C-reactive protein (CRP) than those with negative CRP (63.9±25.4 vs 86.7±13.8, p<0.05). Serum zinc concentration was negatively correlated (r=−0.494, p<0.05) with CRP concentration, whereas positively correlated with hematocrit (r=0.370, p<0.05), total protein (r=0.474, p<0.05), and albumin (r=0.636, p<0.05). Twelve patients (37.5%) showed very low serum zinc concentration (<70 µ/dL) without clinical symptoms of deficiency or growth retardation. Frequency of febrile illness or positive CRP is significantly greater in group with zinc <70 µ/dL than the group with zinc > or =70 µ/dL (91.7% vs 55%, p<0.05; 91.7% vs 40%, p<0.05, respectively).

In patients with acute gastroenteritis, serum zinc concentration was influenced by various factors such as fever, CRP, and biochemical factors. For evaluating zinc status in the body. factors.