Zinc deficiency in children is an important public health problem in the developing world {Manary et al, 2002). Several lines of evidence sug­gest that zinc status of our infants and children are marginal or low. First, animal products, the main source of zinc, represent only a small percentage of the usual diet. Second, high consumption of rice and vegeta­bles may preclude adequate zinc ab­sorption because of their high phytate and fiber contents. Third, gastrointes­tinal disease (diarrhea, parasites) may increase intestinal losses of zinc. So, in our locality, the magnitude of marginal zinc deficiency problem in apparently healthy infants and chil­dren is expected to be high {Hegazi etal.,2002).
The pattern and intensity of proto-zoal infections in zinc deficient chil­dren were studied in comparison to children with normal serum zinc level. The present study (case control study) was conducted on 55 children from rural areas around Mansoura, attending the outpatient clinic of Man­soura University Children's Hospital. They were of both sexes and their ages ranged from 4-11 years. Cryp-tosporidium parvum was the com­monest parasite prevalent among both groups. Other protozoal infec­tions detected were Entamoeba histo-lytica, Giardia lamblia, with a preva­lence of 60.6% and 57.5% respectively in children with low ser­um zinc compared to 54.5%, and 50% in children with normal serum zinc level.