| Abstract: | A 4-month-old boy, fed on lactose-free milk for the treatment of intractable diarrhea for about 3 months, developed acrodermatitis enteropathica-like skin lesions. All the symptoms dramatically disappeared 2 weeks after switching from this milk to a general cow's milk formula, and his low serum zinc level also rapidly returned to normal. The zinc deficiency seen in this case was presumed to be closely related to longterm lactose-free milk alimentation. Acrodermatitis enteropathica, a human zinc deficiency, should be classified into two types, hereditary and acquired. The latter form can develop from intravenous hyperalimentation, longterm lactose-free milk alimentation and longterm penicillamine administration. |
