User:Mr. Ibrahem/Zinc deficiency
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zinc deficiency is a mineral deficiency due to not enough zinc to meet the bodies needs.[4] Symptoms may include diarrhea, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, night blindness, skin rash, increased risk of infections, weight loss, poor healing, abnormal taste, and mental slowness.[1][2] In children it may result in poor growth.[2] During pregnancy it may result in birth defects or low birth weight.[2]
Zinc deficiency | |
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Zinc | |
Symptoms | Diarrhea, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, night blindness, skin rash, increased risk of infections, weight loss, poor healing, abnormal taste, mental slowness[1][2] |
Complications | Poor growth[2] |
Causes | Low dietary intake, poor absorption, increased loss, increased use[1] |
Risk factors | Inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome, liver or kidney problems, vegetarians, alcoholism, other long term diseases[1] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms and risk factors[1] |
Treatment | Zinc supplementation[2] |
Frequency | 2 billion people[3] |
The most common cause is reduced dietary intake.[5] Other causes may include poor absorption, increased loss, or increased use.[1] Risk factors may include inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome, liver or kidney problems, vegetarians, alcoholism, and other long term diseases.[1] It may also occur as a result of a genetic condition known as acrodermatitis enteropathica.[3] Diagnosis is often based on symptoms and risk factors as blood zinc levels are not that accurate.[1]
Dietary sounds include meat, beans, and nuts.[5] The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) in the USA is 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men.[1] Treatment is by zinc supplementation at a dose of 1 to 3 mg/kg elemental zinc per day.[2] Improvement generally occurs within days to weeks.[5]
Zinc deficiency affect about 2 billion people worldwide.[3] It most commonly affects children in the developing world, and old people in the developed world.[3][6] It is uncommon in North America.[1] It is estimated to be involved in nearly half a million deaths in children under 5 a year.[3]