Question
What are the symptoms of zinc deficiency in children?
Answer
- Anorexia: Zinc deficiency can lead to a decrease in taste bud function, affecting taste and subsequently reducing appetite.
- Delayed growth and development: Zinc deficiency can affect protein synthesis, leading to increased bowel movements and interfering with the growth and development of children, potentially resulting in dwarfism in severe cases.
- Delayed pubertal sexual development: Zinc deficiency may cause delayed puberty, such as small testicles and penises in males, sexual dysfunction, delayed breast development and late onset of menstruation in females, as well as late appearance of pubic hair in both males and females.