A case of transient acrodermatitis enteropathica in a breast-fed full-term infant

A 5 month-old, breast-fed, full-term female infant presented with an acral and periorificial dermatitis. Her serum zinc level was low. Her mother's serum zinc level was normal and breast milk zinc was slightly reduced. The infant responded rapidly to zinc therapy. After interruption of zinc therapy, she showed slightly reduced zinc levels, but no relapse, while receiving powdered milk and other baby foods. To maintain zinc serum level, zinc was read-ministered for 4 weeks. Follow-up zinc levels were normal after discontinuation of the zinc readministration. A diagnosis of transient acrodermatitis enteropathica was made based on the above findings.