Cell-mediated immunity in iron- and vitamin-deficient children.

Abstract

DiscussionAcrodermatitis enteropathica presents in early infancy with alopecia, diarrhoea, and a pustular, bullous, or eczematous eruption.The face, extremities, and areas around the orifices are most severely affected.Additional features include nail dystrophy, dental caries, and retar- dation of growth and sexual development.It is thought to be inherited as an autosomal recessive.The course is intermittent but progressive and if untreated is usually fatal within three years.3Treatment with di-iodohydroxyquinoline, first described in 1953,4 was the mainstay until 1973, when zinc deficiency was proposed as the basis of the disorder and success was described with zinc sulphate.This suggestion was supported by similarities between the disorder and zinc deficiency in animals.5 Zinc sulphate is of minimal toxicity as compared with di-iodohydroxyquinoline, and this, allied to its dramatic effectiveness, makes it the treatment of choice.The serum zinc estimation were performed by the National Occupational Hygiene Service, Manchester.