Association Between Serum Zinc Levels and Severity of Respiratory Distress in Infants with Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Background and Aims: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) poses a significant challenge to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of ending preventable deaths among newborns and children under five by 2030. Zinc supplementation may play a role in preventing ARI. This study aimed to assess the relationship between serum zinc levels and the severity of respiratory distress in infants with acute lower respiratory infections admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 105 infants admitted with acute lower respiratory infections at a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata. Participants were systematically selected through random sampling over a one-year period. Data collection involved a pre-designed structured schedule, incorporating the Respiratory Severity Score (RSS). Serum zinc levels were also measured. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v25.0, with results presented through both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Upon admission, 48.6% of the 105 participants exhibited severe respiratory distress. A mild decline in serum zinc levels (<80 mcg/dl) was observed in 35.2% of the participants, with 59.5% of these cases experiencing severe respiratory distress. A significant association was found between the mother’s occupation and the RSS score using Pearson’s chi-square test (χ² = 8.179, p = 0.042). Although a decrease in serum zinc levels corresponded with an increase in the RSS score, this correlation was not statistically significant (Spearman’s rho = 0.149, p = 0.139). Conclusion: Zinc supplementation may be helpful in reducing the severity of respiratory infections.