[ effect of oral zinc sulfate on the management of acute gastroenteritis in children]

Gastroenteritis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity among infants and children around the world. Zinc with increasing the absorbent capacity of enteric villous cells and decreasing the enteric gram negative bacteria and blocking chloride excretion leads to cell healing and helps diarrhea to resolve faster. The present study evaluates the effect of oral zinc sulfate syrup on infants of the city of Zanjan-Iran. In this randomized double blind trial, 400 hospitalized infants [age range of 6 to 24 months] with acute gastroenteritis were divided into two equal groups. The case group received 22 mg of daily oral zinc sulfate; whereas control group took the placebo. Data was gathered with questionnaires and recorded precisely over 10 days and then analyzed with independent statistical t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Findings indicated that the frequency of diarrhea in the case group was less than the control group and weight gain after 10 days in the case group was more than the control group [P<0.0001]. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in hospitalization period and duration of diarrhea. The results of this study pointed out that there is a meaningful relation between times of diarrhea and weight gain in infants with acute gastroenteritis receiving oral zinc sulfate. Thus, prescription of zinc sulfate for infants with acute diarrhea for a period of 10 to 14 days is suggested

[Recognition and frequency determination of common allergens in allergic patients of Zanjan city by skin prick test]

Recognition of various environmental allergens is of great importance. Since contact with them may cause or accelerate sympotoms in allergic patients. Our purpose of this study was to determine sensitivity to common allergens by skin prick test. Patients with allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis referred to Allergy Clinic of Valie Asr Hospital of Zanjan City, 2003-2005, were submitted to skin prick test with a series of indoor, outdoor and food allergens. Two hundred patients [111 females and 89 males] 4-60 years of age were recruited. Eighty three percent of subjects showed at least one positive skin prick test. The skin prick tests were positive for grass [Rye grass 41%], weed [pigweed 27%, Herb 21%], Tree [olive 22%, Ash 20%, Butirytis 19.5%], Mites [D.P 16%, D.F 16%], Cockroach 14.5%, feather 11%, Mold [Aspergillus 11.5%, Alternaria 7.5%], Food [Wheat 9%, Pepper 7.5%, Egg 6.5%]. According to the freguency of positive skin tests to pollens in our patients, it seems that avoiding contact with these agents in related seasons, treatment induction, drug dose acceleration and desensitization procedures would be of great help in allergic patients