Acrodermatitis Enteropathica

The inability to absorb the essential mineral zinc from the diet occurs during affliction with acrodermatitis enteropathica, which is a rare childhood disorder that is hereditary and is passed on from parent to child. Typically the same types of symptoms that occur in patient with extremely low levels of the mineral zinc will develop the same symptomatic reactions as those that occur in children who suffer from this condition; thus even normal people who are not necessary genetically inclined to the condition can develop the symptoms if their absorptive capacity for zinc from the diet is limited.

Diarrhea, loss of hair and the formation of lesions on the skin are typical symptoms of acrodermatitis enteropathica in all patients who suffer from the condition, irrespective of whether they are genetically prone to the condition or not. The condition is lethal and leads to the death of the child in infancy or early childhood if some medical intervention is not carried out as a therapeutic measure.

The physical evidence for the disease can be observed in a swelling or reddening of the skin around the fingernails in the patient. The main symptoms include growth retardation, the presence of a persistent diarrhea, the loss of hair and balding and the presence of a red skin rash on the body of the child.

Certain foodstuffs are ideal as supplements, including foods like oysters, red meat like beef and liver, the seeds of the pumpkin and nuts like pecans, and Brazil nuts- these foods all are high in their zinc content and can be effectively used as a source of dietary source. Additional zinc supplementation through the use of capsules and tablets are albeit necessary in all cases of patients with acrodermatitis enteropathica.

Supplements and herbs

Complete remission and recovery from the hereditary form of acrodermatitis enteropathica can be achieved in genetically prone individuals through zinc supplementation with capsules and tablets. With this form of the condition the use of 30 to 150 mg of the zinc supplements per day is advised during the treatment period. In order to avoid further complications like the depletion of copper from the body that usually occurs during zinc supplementation and at the same time to ensure the intake of zinc is adequate, healthcare professionals must always be around to monitor the supplementation of people with acrodermatitis enteropathica.

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