An Unorthodox Case of Nutritional Dermatosis

Abstract

Since its first discovery in an Iranian male in 1961, zinc deficiency in humans is known to be an important malnutrition problem world-wide. Due to the multitude of basic biochemical functions of zinc in the cells of human body, there is a broad range of physiological signs of zinc deficiency. India has made important strides in reducing nutritional deficiencies over the past several decades. However, for micronutrients such as zinc, there is persistently worsening trend. Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare inherited form of zinc malabsorption and typically becomes symptomatic 4 to 6 weeks after an infant has stopped breastfeeding.  

We, hereby, present the case of a patient who presented with clinical features of acrodermatitis enteropathica for the first time at 32 years of age caused by
acquired zinc deficiency