Efficacy of zinc in the treatment of severe pneumonia in hospitalized children <2 y old.

Background: Severe pneumonia remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in undernourished young children in developing countries.

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of adjuvant zinc therapy on recovery from severe pneumonia by hospitalized children in southern India who were receiving standard antibiotic therapy.

Design: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted at the Christian Medical College Hospital, an 1800-bed teaching hospital in Tamilnadu, India.