title: Zinc supplementation in the management of shigellosis in malnourished children in Bangladesh.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of zinc supplementation on clinical recovery, weight gain and subsequent growth and morbidity in moderately malnourished children with shigellosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dhaka hospital of ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six moderately malnourished children, aged 12-59 months with culture-proven shigellosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomly allocated to receive zinc (20 mg/day elemental) in multivitamin syrup (intervention) or multivitamin syrup without zinc (control) in two equally divided doses daily for 2 weeks. All children received pivmecillinam in a dose of 15 mg/kg every 6 h for 5 days. After supplementation, children were followed in their respective homes every 2 weeks for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children receiving zinc recovered from acute illness significantly faster than the control children (P<0.05). The medians time (days) to recovery and disappearances of blood and mucous were significantly 50% shorter in the zinc-supplemented group compared to the control group. The mean body weight of zinc supplemented children increased significantly from 8.8 kg on admission to 9.2 kg (P<0.01) at recovery, which was not observed in the control children (from 9.3 to 9.6 kg; P=0.12). During the 6-month follow-up period, zinc-supplemented children had significantly fewer mean episodes of diarrhoea compared to the control children (2.2 vs 3.3; P=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zinc supplementation significantly shortens the duration of acute shigellosis, promotes better weight gain during recovery and reduces diarrhoeal morbidity during the subsequent 6 months.
authors.affiliation: ICDDR B: Centre for Health and Population Research, 68 Tajuddin Ahmed Sharani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh. skroy@icddrb.org
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raqib
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Khatun
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sack
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015430:Weight Gain; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D015032:Zinc