Wound problems due to zinc deficiency.

Zinc deficiency, though uncommon, can occasionally present in current medical practice. A 4.5-year-old boy with previous gastrointestinal surgery presented with diarrhoea, disinterest and dermatitis affecting the face and perineum. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of a low serum zinc level. Administration of parenteral zinc led to rapid improvement in diarrhoea, demeanor and dermatitis. Further surgery was then undertaken, surgery had been postponed until normalisation of zinc levels due the association between zinc deficiency and poor postoperative wound healing.