Enteropathic acrodermatitis is a genetic condition caused by problems with zinc absorption. Symptoms include severe rashes, diarrhea, and hair loss. Supplementing with zinc resolves symptoms, but the condition is permanent. The disorder is caused by a recessive gene, and babies with the condition cannot move zinc from milk across the intestinal membrane efficiently. Zinc supplementation can prevent long-term damage.
Children who have genetic problems with zinc absorption suffer from a condition called enteropathic acrodermatitis. Symptoms include severe rashes, mostly around the mouth and anus, and diarrhea. Supplementing your child’s diet with zinc resolves the symptoms, although the condition is permanent.
While the precise genes involved in hereditary zinc deficiency are not known, scientists suspect a gene called SLC39A4 may be involved. This gene codes for a transporter protein, known as ZIP4, which moves zinc across membranes. Babies with the genetic condition cannot move zinc from milk across the intestinal membrane efficiently. The disorder is recessive, which means the child must inherit one copy of the mutated gene from each parent to have the disorder. If you inherit just one defective copy, zinc metabolism is unaffected.
Symptoms of acrodermatitis enteropathica usually start in the first days or weeks of a baby’s life if they are formula-fed. Breastfed babies show no symptoms until they are weaned off solid foods. This difference is due to the fact that zinc from human milk is much more easily absorbed by the infant than zinc from cow’s milk.
An affected child usually has inflamed skin with pimples around the anus and mouth, although this rash may also be present on the elbows, feet, knees, and around the eyes. The rash starts out as flaky, dry skin and develops into lesions. Diarrhea is another common symptom.
Hair loss is another symptom of acrodermatitis enteropathia, which also affects the eyelashes and eyebrows. The baby’s nail region may be inflamed and the nails may develop ridges. The tongue may be red and shiny, and mouth ulcers may develop. The effect the disease has on your baby’s skin can also lead to a secondary yeast or bacterial infection, and the wounds don’t heal as quickly as normal.
Zinc is essential for normal body functions, so children with acrodermatitis enteropathia may also suffer long-term damage if they are not given zinc supplements. Stunted growth, neurological symptoms, and infection are all complications of zinc deficiency. As a result, affected children are usually irritable and emotionally depressed.
The symptoms of the disease begin to disappear as soon as zinc is administered. Before zinc deficiency was discovered as the cause of the condition, babies died within a few years of being born. Now, however, lifelong zinc supplementation can prevent acrodermatitis enteropathia from causing harm. Children without hereditary zinc deficiency but who don’t get enough zinc in their diets may also suffer from similar conditions.
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