Effectiveness of Zinc Supplementation in Tablet Versus Suspension Form in Acute Diarrhea

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of zinc supplementation in tablets versus suspension form in acute diarrhea.
Methods: A comparative study was carried out in the department of Pediatrics, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro/Hyderabad. Children of either gender, aged 5 months to 59 months coming with presentation of acute diarrhea/ recurrent episodes of diarrhea were included. Total 100 children of acute diarrhea were enrolled in this study and they were
equally divided into two groups. All patients were treated according to current IMCI guideline for acute diarrhea. The children in group A were treated with zinc supplement in tablet form whereas those children in group B were treated with zinc supplement in suspension form 14 days. Children in both groups were assessed for duration and frequency of acute diarrhea. All the
children were assessed on daily basis to determine the stool frequency and duration of acute diarrhea. All the data was entered and analyze by version 26.
Results: The majority (54%) of children were aged 6 to 12 months. Zinc supplementation significantly reduced stool frequency in children with acute diarrhea over a 5-day period. On day 1, the overall mean stool frequency was 5.6 ± 2.51, with Group A (tablet) at 5.2 ± 2.22 and Group B (suspension) at 6.0 ± 2.72. By day 2, the mean stool frequency decreased to 2.7 ± 1.63
(Group A: 2.6 ± 1.5; Group B: 2.9 ± 1.74). On day 3, the frequency further declined to 1.7 ± 0.94
(Group A: 1.8 ± 0.85; Group B: 1.7 ± 1.03). A statistically significant reduction in stool frequency was observed from day 1 to day 5 (p = 0.05), with stool frequency also decreasing as the children's age increased.
Conclusion: Zinc supplementation in tablet and suspension form is equally effective reducing frequency and severity of acute watery diarrhea in children.
Key words: Acute diarrhea, zinc supplementation, stool frequency, duration of diarrhea.