Oral zinc for treating diarrhoea in children
Oral zinc supplementation for treating diarrhoea in children
Marzia Lazzerini1,*,Luca Ronfani2
1 WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Unit for Health Services Research and International Health, Trieste, Italy
2 Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Trieste, Italy
Oral zinc for treating diarrhoea in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD005436.
To read the full review please follow this link: DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005436.pub4.
In developing countries, millions of children suffer from severe diarrhoea every year. This is due to infection and malnutrition, and many die from dehydration due to the diarrhoea. Giving fluids by mouth (using an oral rehydration solution) has been shown to save children's lives, but it seems to have no effect on the length of time the children suffer with diarrhoea. Children in developing countries are often zinc deficient. This systematic review of 24 trials involving more than 9000 children shows that zinc supplementation may reduce the duration of diarrhoea in children aged six months or more.