Transient Zinc Deficiency Located on Unusual Sites / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Zinc deficiency in breast-fed infants is an important disorder. Unlike acrodermatitis enteropathica, it is transient and stops when nursing ends. We report on a case of a breast-fed, full-term male infant who presented with erythematous fine scaly patches and plaques involving the flexural area and trunk at 4 month of age. Clinical impressions of intertrigo, fungal infection or inverse psoriasis were considered. These lesions did not respond to treatment with topical antifungal agents and corticosteroids. The results of laboratory investigations revealed a lowered zinc level in the infant's serum (48.4microg/dl normal 70~121microg/dl) and in the mother's milk (16microg/dl normal 48~75microg/dl) and a normal level of zinc in the mother's serum. After the patient's mother was given zinc supplements, the skin lesions were dramatically improved and his serum zinc level became normal. Early recognition of the disorder and introduction of zinc supplementation rapidly reversed the transient zinc deficiency.