Effect of Zinc as an adjunct to antibiotic on the duration of hospitalization of sever pneumonia patients among 6-59 months of children in Debretabor General Hospital, Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Zinc deficiency is an important driver of mal nutrition in children under 5 years of age and is associated with stunting, lower respiratory tract infections and diarrhea. Pneumonia is the most common causes of death for children in low-income countries. Studies evaluating the impact of zinc supplementation as an adjunct in the management of pneumonia are limited. In Ethiopia, pneumonia is the leading cause of child mortality, which accounts 17% of all under five mortality.
Objective: To determine the effect of Zinc as an adjunct to antibiotic on the duration of Hospitalization of sever pneumonia among 6-59 months of Children in Debretabor General Hospital.
Methods: total sample size were 152 young both experimental and placebo groups, 50% of children visiting the hospital was taken as sample size,Double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial study was conducted at Debretaboar General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia 2017. The follow up and data collection were taken February 1 to May 1, 2017. The treatment and the control groups were received Zinc tablet and placebo from the enrolment till to discharge time. SPSS version 22 statistical package was used for analysis.
Result: The mean day duration of hospitalization in zinc treated group 3.4(1.17) is significantly shorter than placebo groups 4(1.27). Median (IQR) time taken for resolution of severe pneumonia in zinc group was 52(32, 64) hours and in placebo control group was 56(48, 72) hours. The two groups were comparable in terms of time to resolution of severe pneumonia (p = 0.047). The mean (SD) time taken for resolution of severe pneumonia in zinc group was 52.6(24.5) hours and in placebo group was 61.4(26.7) hours.
Conclusion: In this study, zinc supplementation as adjunct to standard antibiotic shortens the median duration of hospital stay, and duration of resolution of severe pneumonia sign symptoms.