Volume : 8, Issue : 3, March - 2019

THE DIFFERENCE OF SERUM ZINC LEVELS ON THE INTENSIVE AND CONTINUATION PHASE OF CHILDHOOD TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT

Carolina, Beby Syofiani Hasibuan, Wisman Dalimunthe

Abstract :

Background: Zinc deficiency (serum zinc levels of ≤65 µg/dl) leads to increase susceptibility to infection and known to impair cellular mediated immunity which plays an important role in tuberculosis (TB). Objective: To evaluate serum zinc levels and nutritional status of the tuberculous children on the intensive and continuation phase of TB treatment. Methods: This was a cohort-prospective study whereas serum zinc levels and nutritional status of 29 children with various form of TB were measured on the intensive and continuation phase of TB treatment. Results: Mean serum zinc levels in children with pulmonary TB (n=21) was 59.2 µg/dl (15.02), lymphadenitis TB (n=3) was 59.0 µg/dl (10.44), and meningitis TB (n=5) was 53.2 µg/dl (18.36) on the intensive phase of TB treatment. Serum zinc levels measured on the intensive and continuation phase were 58.1 µg/dl (14.93) and 68.9 µg/dl (16.40), respectively, and significant rise in serum zinc levels was noted (mean increment of serum zinc levels=10.8 µg/dl; P<0.001). Despite of significant rise in serum zinc levels, the proportion of tuberculous children with zinc deficiency state remained high (15/29). The proportion of tuberculous children with malnutrition was decreased from 24/29 to 16/29. There was no association between serum zinc levels and nutritional status in the sample population. Conclusion: Increase of serum zinc levels is demonstrated along the phase of TB treatment, nevertheless the proportion of tuberculous children with zinc deficiency state remains high. Further studies regarding zinc supplementation in childhood TB are warranted.