title: Oral zinc supplements are ineffective for treating acute dehydrating diarrhoea in 5-12-year-olds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many countries have guidelines recommending the use of oral zinc in acute dehydrating diarrhoea in children aged 2 months to 5 years of age, but no guidelines exist for older children. This study tested how effective existing recommendations are in children from 5 to 12 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children hospitalised with acute dehydrating diarrhoea (n = 134) were randomised to receive 40 mg of oral zinc sulphate tablets or a placebo for 14 days. The primary outcome variable was the time taken for diarrhoea to stop. Secondary outcome variables included time taken for rehydration, duration of hospitalisation and recurrence of diarrhoea in the next 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median time for resolution of diarrhoea was 60 h in both groups. The zinc group was marginally better, but not statistically significant, for resolution (hazard ratio = 0.89, 95% CI 0.63-1.24), rehydration (hazard ratio = 0.93, 95% CI 0.66-1.32) and hospitalisation (hazard ratio = 0.94, 95% CI 0.67-1.34). The risk ratio of recurrence for zinc versus placebo (95% CI) was 0.65 [0.37-1.23] [p = 0.11].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily zinc supplements (40 mg for 14 days) in children aged 5-12 years with acute dehydrating diarrhoea did not shorten the duration of diarrhoea or reduce subsequent episodes. Further adequately sized, community-based trials are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ruchita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Negi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dewan
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Dheeraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Shukla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Biology Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Gurgaon, India.
authors.forename: Shinjini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Piyush
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003681:Dehydration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D017211:Treatment Failure; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc
keywords: Child; Dehydration; Diarrhoea; Zinc