الفهرس 
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Abstract
Summary
In the current study the effect of zinc or simultaneous zinc and vitamin A supplementation on hematological parameters and incidence of acute upper respiratory infections (AURTI) in pediatric patients were investigated. The study was conducted on 80 pediatric patients (33 males and 47 females) aged between 2-12 year old. Patients diagnosed with acute upper respiratory tract infections (AURTIs) such as common cold, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, otitis media, sinusitis or epiglottitis were randomly recruited from outpatient pediatric clinics of Naser central hospital in Naser town, Beni-Suef, Egypt. These cases were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: group1 (G1,n=20) who received placebo, group 2 (G2,n=30) who received daily zinc supplementation (2-2.5 mg elemental zinc/kg divided on 1 to 3 doses) and group3 (G3,n=30) who received zinc plus once dosing of vitamin A group (50000IU,) in addition to the required treatment for their respiratory illness.
All cases provided non-fasting venous blood sample, about 3 cm³, before treatment and 14 days post treatment. Two (2) cm³ for differential blood count analysis (CBC) and (1) cm³ to determine the creative reactive protein (CRP) quantitatively . Children were followed up and monitored once weekly for six months and information regarding adverse effects, (AURTIs) incidence, and missing school days were collected.
Differential blood count analysis of the patients showed that the lymphocyte percentage significantly increased in all groups while the total (WBCs) count, neutrophil percentage and CRP significantly decreased after supplementation with either Zn or Zn +vitamin A (p=0.001). Regarding monocytes percentage values did not show any significant difference post Zn treatment while increased significantly (p=0.011) after Zn +vitamin A supplement. On the other hand, hemoglobin values were not affected by either supplements.
In addition, AURTIs and school absence incidences were significantly decreased in both Zn and Zn + vitamin A recipients compared to placebo patients.
The results suggest that administration of Zn supplements in addition to the required treatment significantly improved the clinical disease picture in children with AURTIs by boosting immunity, decreasing inflammation and reducing respiratory infections incidences. However, concurrent vitamin A administration with Zn supplement did not confer any additional benefit over using Zn supplement alone, except monocytes percentages values which increased significantly. This means that vitamin A is important regulators of monocytic differentiation and function and suggests greater protection against infections.