Macro- and microelements determination in children with rotavirus infection

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine serum zinc, iron, magnesium, copper, potassium, calcium, and sodium levels in acute rotavirus infection and convalescence period in children. Materials and methods. We examined 86 patients aged from 4 months to 5 years with clinical and laboratory signs of rotavirus infection. The I group – 43 children with RVI in acute period. The II group – 43 children with RVI in convalescence period. The control group included 14 healthy children at the same age. The content of macro- and microelements (zinc, iron, magnesium, copper, potassium, calcium and sodium) in blood serum was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Feces samples were used for Cito Test Rota (Pharmasco). Cito test was used for rotavirus antigen detection in feces. Statistical analysis was performed by Excel. Student’s t-test was used to evaluate differences between study groups. Results. The acute period of the disease in children with rotavirus infection was characterized by a significant increase of copper in blood serum compared with the control group. At the same time, a significant decrease of iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, calcium, sodium were determined in patients with rotavirus infection, compared with apparently healthy children. After standard treatment only the indicators of magnesium, potassium and sodium reached the same indices of control group children. Conclusions. The detected changes in the mineral status of patients with rotavirus infection suggest the need for treatment correction. Correction of micro- and macroelements imbalances in patients with rotavirus infection possibly should be aimed at the metallo-drugs inclusion in complex treatment as well as medicines which improve absorption of the latter in the intestine.

Keywords

• rotavirus
• children
• zinc
• iron
• magnesium
• copper
• potassium
• calcium
• sodium