Abstract:
Objective
To investigate the significance of blood zinc level in children with diarrhea.
Methods
From January 2013 to March 2016, 90 children with diarrhea were admitted to the Pediatric Ward of the Sanming First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, and 90 cases were selected as the normal control group. The rate of zinc deficiency in different age groups was detected; the level of blood zinc in children with diarrhea at different ages, and with different courses and conditions was detected; the level of blood zinc in infectious diarrhea and non-infectious diarrhea was also determined.
Results
In the diarrhea group, the incidence of zinc deficiency gradually decreased with age,  compared with healthy children of the same age, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). The level of blood zinc in diarrhea group was related to age and the course of disease, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Compared with non-infectious and light diarrhea children, the level of blood zinc decreased significantly in infectious and severe diarrhea patients［(67.99±14.56)μmol/L vs. (56.71 ±12.11)μmol/L,(69.01±15.16)μmol/L vs. (57.88±13.46) μmol/L, P<0.05］.
Conclusion
The blood zinc level of children with diarrhea is lower than that of healthy children of the same age. Blood zinc levels should be routinely measured, and among them, young children and children with infectious and severe diarrhea and long course of disease are the focus of testing.

Key words: Diarrhea, Blood zinc level, Children