Introduction: Pneumonia is a frequent and serious human illness. In Bangladesh, Acute Lower Respiratory Infection (ALRI) is a major cause of death among young children. Childhood mortality can be reduced by 50% with detection and early treatment of illness with antibiotics and immunization. Zinc plays an important role in the optimal function of the immune system by reducing the risk, severity and duration of infectious diseases. Zinc supplementation improves health and cell mediated immunity. Objectives: This study is aimed at documenting effect of zinc supplementation in preschool children on reducing ALRI. Methods: This was a double blind random control trial interventional study among180 child, conducted at Comilla CMH, from January 2010 to December 2011. The children aged 6-60 months were selected randomly for comparison of effect of Zinc and Vitamin B-Complex on ALRI. Results: In the study population, male to female ratio was 1.05:1. Baseline average age was 32 months and weight for height was 92% Of NCHS mean. It was found that 89% children completed immunization as per EPI schedule, the rest 11% were partially immunized. Twenty nine percent children had family history of Atopy. This study showed 15 episodes of ALRI in Zinc group in the control B-Complex group (1.09episodes/child/year) during the six months follow-up. There was no association of ALRI with sex. The male female ratio in this respect was 1.07:1. In this study there was statistically significant and clinically important (67%) reduction of episodes of ALRI in oral Zinc supplement group. Conclusion: This finding strongly suggests that oral supplement of Zinc reduces episodes of ALRI in children. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jafmc.v9i1.18736 Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.9(1) 2013: 84-89

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Ferrous sulfate with iron polymaltosecomplex in treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children in terms of rise in hemoglobin. Studydesign: Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Department of Paediatric Medicine Unit I AlliedHospital Faisalabad. Study duration: 6 months. Methodology: All the children of age group6 month to 12year with hemoglobin level <10g/dl, MCV<70fl corrected for age, MCHC<32%,serum ferritin<8μg/l were included. All other cases of anemia other than iron deficiency anemiasuch as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, lead poisoning etc, patients with severe anemia(hb≤6g/dl) because they need blood transfusion to correct anemia, those with decompensatedheart failure or acute infection were excluded. After enrolment patients were randomly dividedinto two groups by lottery method. Group A, patients were given ferrous sulphate. Group B,patients were given iron polymaltose complex (IPC). Both iron preparations were given inthe dose of 5mg/kg/day of elemental iron in three divided dosage 30 minutes before meals.Patients were assessed at one month interval after the start of treatment and hemoglobin waschecked at follow up visit by taking 2cc blood. Results: Sixty children were studied. Meanage was 2.5 ± 5.1 years, range 7 months to 12 years with 32 girls, 28 boys. The patients wereevenly distributed between the two treatment groups (IPC, n = 30, 50%; ferrous sulfate, n =30, 50%). All erythrocyte-related hematologic parameters after one month treatment showed asignificant improvement from baseline with both treatments. A significant improvement in Hbwas observed after one month treatment in the IPC group 9.5 ± 1.1g/dL to 10.6 ±1.0 g/dL andthe ferrous sulfate group 9.4 ± 1.6 g/dL to 11.2 ± 0.9 g/dL which was statistically significant.Conclusion: From this randomized study, it is concluded that both ferrous sulphate and ironpolymaltose complex have equal efficacy in treatment of iron deficiency anemia

To compare the efficacy of Ferrous sulfate with iron polymaltose complex in treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children in terms of rise in hemoglobin. Study design: Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Department of Paediatric Medicine Unit I Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Study duration: 6 months. Methodology: All the children of age group 6 month to 12year with hemoglobin level <10g/dl, MCV<70fl corrected for age, MCHC<32%, serum ferritin<8µg/l were included. All other cases of anemia other than iron deficiency anemia such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, lead poisoning etc, patients with severe anemia (hb≤6g/dl) because they need blood transfusion to correct anemia, those with decompensated heart failure or acute infection were excluded. After enrolment patients were randomly divided into two groups by lottery method. Group A, patients were given ferrous sulphate. Group B, patients were given iron polymaltose complex (IPC). Both iron preparations were given in the dose of 5mg/kg/day of elemental iron in three divided dosage 30 minutes before meals. Patients were assessed at one month interval after the start of treatment and hemoglobin was checked at follow up visit by taking 2cc blood. Results: Sixty children were studied. Mean age was 2.5 ± 5.1 years, range 7 months to 12 years with 32 girls, 28 boys. The patients were evenly distributed between the two treatment groups (IPC, n = 30, 50%; ferrous sulfate, n = 30, 50%). All erythrocyte-related hematologic parameters after one month treatment showed a significant improvement from baseline with both treatments. A significant improvement in Hb was observed after one month treatment in the IPC group 9.5 ± 1.1g/dL to 10.6 ±1.0 g/dL and the ferrous sulfate group 9.4 ± 1.6 g/dL to 11.2 ± 0.9 g/dL which was statistically significant. Conclusion: From this randomized study, it is concluded that both ferrous sulphate and iron polymaltose complex have equal efficacy in treatment of iron deficiency anemia