[Zinc and treatment of diarrhoea].
Recently WHO and UNICEF issued a joint statement revising guidelines for clinical management of diarrhoea. These updated recommendations take into account new research findings showing the beneficial effects of oral rehydration salts (ORS) containing lower concentrations of glucose and salts and of zinc supplementation. In combination with prevention and treatment of dehydration with appropriate fluids, breastfeeding, continued feeding and selective use of antibiotics, these two advances can drastically diminish the number of child deaths by reducing the duration and severity of diarrhoeal episodes and lowering their incidence. The purpose of this report is to present the research findings that demonstrated the efficacy of zinc supplementation in the management of diarrhoea and led to revision of WHO/UNCEF guidelines.
Fontaine
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Département de la Santé et du Développement de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, Genève. fontaineo@who.int
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003681:Dehydration / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014480:United Nations; D014944:World Health Organization; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005947:Glucose; D015032:Zinc