title: Comparison of the effectiveness of zinc supplementation in tablets form with that of the suspension form in the treatment of acute diarrhoea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of zinc supplementation in tablet form with that of the suspension form in the treatment of acute diarrhoea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative study was carried out at the Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan from October 2008 to April 2009, and comprised children aged6-24 months suffering from acute diarrhoea. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of even and odd numbers. Group A (even numbers) received dispersible zinc tablets, and group B (odd numbers) received zinc suspension. The patients were admitted for 3 days and improvement was checked at the end of 3rd day in terms of decrease in the frequency of stools/day. SPSS 15 was used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 88 patients were divided into two groups of 44(50%) each. Overall, 49(55.7%) patients were male and 39(44.3%) were female. At the end of the 3rd day 51(58%) patients improved, while 37(42%) did not. In the zinc tablet group, improvement was in 32(72%) patients compared to 19(43%) in the zinc suspension group (p<0.05).diarrhoea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of tablets preparation were clinically significant in reducing the duration and severity of diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sarwat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Urooj
authors.affiliation: Civil Hospital Hyderabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hafeez Ullah
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.affiliation: Civil Hospital Hyderabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Yasmeen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Bibi Shazia
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013535:Suspensions; D013607:Tablets; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D013535:Suspensions; D013607:Tablets; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Diarrhoea, Zinc tablets, Zinc suspension, ORS