Zinc deficiency and its management in the pediatric population: A literature review and proposed etiologic classification

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 69; no. 4; pp. 616 - 624.e1
• Main Authors: Corbo, Michael D., MD, Lam, Joseph, MD, FRCPC
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Acrodermatitis - etiology; Acrodermatitis - physiopathology; Acrodermatitis - therapy; acrodermatitis enteropathica; Alopecia - etiology; Alopecia - physiopathology; Alopecia - therapy; Child; Child, Preschool; Deficiency Diseases - diagnosis; Deficiency Diseases - mortality; Deficiency Diseases - therapy; Dermatitis - etiology; Dermatitis - physiopathology; Dermatitis - therapy; Dermatology; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Malnutrition - complications; micronutrients; pediatric; Pediatrics; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Survival Rate; Treatment Outcome; Zinc - deficiency; Zinc - metabolism; zinc absorption; zinc absorption; IL; AE; acrodermatitis enteropathica; SLC; solute-linked carrier; pediatric; nuclear factor; MMP; zinc metabolism; ROS; reactive oxygen species; NF; matrix metalloproteinase; micronutrients; interleukin; zinc deficiency
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.04.028

Zinc is a trace element essential to the gastrointestinal, immune, integumentary, reproductive, and central nervous systems. Zinc deficiency is prevalent in many areas of the world and is a diagnostically challenging condition. Cutaneous manifestations typically occur in moderate to severe zinc deficiency and present as alopecia and dermatitis in the perioral, acral, and perineal regions. Zinc deficiency is a potentially fatal disease process. The aim of this review is to focus on the cutaneous manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of zinc deficiency in children, and to propose an etiologic classification system.