Zinc is an essential rnicronutrient with catalytic role in over a hundred specificmetabolic enzymes in human metabolism regulates the expression of the metallothioneingene, apoptosis and synaptic signaling and needed for many aspects of immune system. Thusthe zinc ‘supplementation in patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections might havepotential benefits. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of zinc supplementation in patientswith acute lower respiratory tract infections. Study design: Quasi experimental study. Setting:Study was conducted in the pediatrics department Independent hospital Faisalabad; the indoorpatients meeting the inclusion criteria from 26th January to 25th July 2013 were included instudy. Material and methods: 100 children meeting the inclusion criteria were included in thestudy which were divided into two groups with random allocation i.e. Group A (Odd number)& Group B (Even number). Group A was given zinc supplementation 20mg of elemental zincfor 14 days. Along with antimicrobials, oxygen and antipyretics for fever while 50 childrenin Group B were given with antimicrobials. Oxygen and antipyretics for fever without zinc.Results: Baseline clinical parameters were comparable in both groups at admission. Outcomemeasures considered were duration of fever, tachypneoa, chest indrawings and total durationof hospital admission. Effect of zinc supplementation is significant with p-value of less than 0.05for duration of tachypnoea and chest indrawings and total duration of hospital admission whileresult showed p-value equal to 0.05 that is just significant for duration of fever.

Zinc is an essential rnicronutrient with catalytic role in over a hundred specific metabolic enzymes in human metabolism regulates the expression of the metallothionein gene, apoptosis and synaptic signaling and needed for many aspects of immune system. Thus the zinc 'supplementation in patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections might have potential benefits. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of zinc supplementation in patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections. Study design: Quasi experimental study. Setting: Study was conducted in the pediatrics department Independent hospital Faisalabad; the indoor patients meeting the inclusion criteria from 26 th January to 25 th July 2013 were included in study. Material and methods: 100 children meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study which were divided into two groups with random allocation i.e. Group A (Odd number) & Group B (Even number). Group A was given zinc supplementation 20mg of elemental zinc for 14 days. Along with antimicrobials, oxygen and antipyretics for fever while 50 children in Group B were given with antimicrobials. Oxygen and antipyretics for fever without zinc. Results: Baseline clinical parameters were comparable in both groups at admission. Outcome measures considered were duration of fever, tachypneoa, chest indrawings and total duration of hospital admission. Effect of zinc supplementation is significant with p-value of less than 0.05 for duration of tachypnoea and chest indrawings and total duration of hospital admission while result showed p-value equal to 0.05 that is just significant for duration of fever.