Skin Signs of Zinc Deficiency in Children: A Clinical Study in Jordan
January 2019
in “
Jordan Medical Journal
”
TLDR Zinc deficiency in children can cause skin issues and is often overlooked.
A clinical study conducted in Jordan investigated zinc deficiency in 800 children with dermatological symptoms. It found that 56 children (7%) exhibited clinical signs of zinc deficiency, confirmed by low serum zinc levels. These signs included acrodermatitis enteropathica, perioral dermatitis, diffuse eczematoid rash, chronic diffuse hair loss with abnormal hair texture, recurrent perleche, and recurrent furunculosis and paronychia. The study concluded that zinc deficiency was a significant health issue that could be easily overlooked due to its less characteristic appearance, especially in mild cases.
