Decrease in Stool Frequency with Zinc Supplementation in Acute Watery Diarrhea

Objective: To compare mean decrease in stool frequency in patients with zinc supplementation versus placebo in addition to ORS in children with acute diarrhea. Study Design: Randomized control study Place and Duration of Study: The study was held at diarrhea ward of the Institute of Child Health and Children’s Hospital Lahore from 15 March to 15 September, 2017. Material and Methods: Inclusion criteria was children age 6 months to 5 years with duration of diarrhea <3 days An informed consent was taken. Group A was considered as zinc supplemented group and given syrup zinc sulfate 20 mg/day plus ORS while group B as placebo group and was given ORS and placebo dextrose saline solution 20 ml daily. Final outcome was measured on day 7 by determining the decrease in stool frequency in zinc group as compared to placebo. Results: Amongst 150 cases, in Zinc and Placebo group mean duration of diarrhea was 7.75 ± 4.19 days and 8.87 ± 3.78 days respectively with same mean duration, p-value >0.05. After treatment (7^th day), mean decrease in frequency of stool was significantly high in Zinc group (8.20 ± 4.13) when compared to placebo group (3.15 ± 4.47), p-value <0.001. Conclusion: Amongst children, supplementation of zinc with addition of ORS results in reduction of frequency of stools so zinc can significantly reduce the diarrhea and its complications.