[Acrodermatitis enteropathica; a literature review].

A young girl with recurrent upper respiratory tract infection showed minor skin lesions and was found to suffer from acrodermatitis enteropathica. She responded dramatically to treatment with zinc sulphate. We review the signs and symptoms and their reported frequencies in 196 reported patients. The classical triad, dermatitis, alopecia and intractable diarrhoea is present in only 20% of the cases. Their intermittent occurrence and the vast range of other, also misleading symptoms, may cause a diagnostic problem. Treatment is effective, safe and simple: 3 to 30 mumol zinc per kg per day. Attention should be paid to sorbitol, added to the standard Dutch zinc sulphate prescription. It may induce diarrhoea.