Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation in Reducing the Severity and Duration ofCommon Cold in School-Aged Children: A Prospective Study

Background: The common cold is one of the most frequent illnesses affecting school-aged children, leading tosignificant school absenteeism and healthcare burden. While symptomatic treatments are commonly used, therehas been growing interest in the potential role of zinc supplementation in reducing the severity and duration of thecommon cold. Zinc plays a crucial role in immune function, modulating inflammatory responses, and inhibitingviral replication. However, existing literature on its efficacy in pediatric populations remains inconclusive.Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the role of zinc supplementation in reducing the severity, duration, andrecurrence of the common cold in school-aged children. The study also seeks to determine whether zincadministration at the onset of symptoms provides measurable benefits in mitigating cold-related morbidity.Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Department of Pediatrics, Darbhanga Medical College andHospital, Laheriasarai, Darbhanga, Bihar, India, involving 120 school-aged children (6–12 years) presenting withsymptoms of the common cold. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the zinc supplementationgroup, which received 15 mg of zinc sulfate daily for seven days, and the control group, which received a placebo.The primary outcomes measured included the duration of cold symptoms (cough, nasal congestion, and fever),the severity of symptoms using a standardized symptom severity score, and the recurrence rate within thesubsequent three months. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the differences between groups.Results: Children receiving zinc supplementation showed a statistically significant reduction in the duration ofsymptoms compared to the control group. The mean duration of symptoms was 4.2 days in the zinc groupcompared to 6.1 days in the control group (p < 0.001). The severity scores were also significantly lower in thezinc group after three days of treatment (p = 0.02). Additionally, the recurrence of cold episodes within threemonths was lower in the zinc group (15% vs. 30%, p = 0.04), suggesting a possible protective effect of zincsupplementation against future infections.Conclusion: Zinc supplementation significantly reduces the duration and severity of the common cold in school-aged children and may contribute to reducing recurrence rates. These findings support the potential inclusion ofzinc in therapeutic and preventive strategies for managing common cold symptoms in pediatric populations.However, further large-scale studies are recommended to validate these findings and determine optimal dosingstrategies.