Zinc deficiency with transitory acrodermatitis enteropathica in a boy of low birth weight

Abstract
A premature male baby fed on his mother''s milk developed Zn deficiency and a skin disorder inseparable for acrodermatitis enteropathica. Following Zn therapy the skin lesions healed. Later the treatment was withheld and no recurrence was seen during 30 mo. observation. The boy''s Zn deficiency was possibly due to a high requirement secondary to rapid growth, to poor Zn supply in food and, possibly, to inefficient Zn absorbtion.