Acute zinc deficiency in a premature infant after bowel resection and intravenous alimentation

Zinc deficiency in the newborn has primarily been associated with prolonged parenteral alimentation without adequate zinc supplementation. Affected infants, usally premature infants, fail to thrive despite adequate caloric intake, and irritability, lethargy, and an extensive perioral and diaper rash indistinguishable from that seen in acrodermatitis enteropathica are symptoms of this condition. The contribution of previous gastrointestinal (GI) disturbance (chronic diarrhea or malabsorption) to the development of zinc deficiency in the neonate has received little attention. The authors report a case of zinc deficiency in a premature infant who received parenteral alimentation with preexisting GI disease. This case suggests that patients who receive total parenteral alimentation for more than two weeks should have zinc supplementation.