Prescription and administration of a 14-day regimen of zinc treatment for childhood diarrhea in Mali.
We evaluated prescription and correct dosing of a 14-day course of dispersible zinc tablets prescribed to young children with diarrhea by community and facility workers in rural, southern Mali, West Africa. One hundred twenty-three children were followed at home on days 3 and 14 after being prescribed zinc. The age-appropriate dose of zinc was dispensed in 94% of cases. Ninety-five percent of mothers dissolved the tablet in a small amount of water and gave it with a spoon. Only eight caretakers reported problems with zinc administration: either vomiting or refusal to take the tablets. Sixty-four percent of children received the full 14-day course of treatment, and more than 89% of children were given at least a 10-day course of zinc treatment. The levels of correct administration were very good but might be lower under non-research conditions.
Winch
Peter J
PJ
Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205-2103, USA. pwinch@jhsph.edu
Gilroy
Kate E
KE
Doumbia
Seydou
S
Patterson
Amy E
AE
Daou
Zana
Z
Coulibaly
Seyon
S
Swedberg
Eric
E
Black
Robert E
RE
Fontaine
Olivier
O