A 14-month-old child with acute watery diarrhoea and some dehydration is managed with ORS at a health centre. As per WHO and UNICEF recommendations, adjunctive therapy that reduces the duration and severity of the episode should be given as:
- A Elemental zinc 20 mg daily for 14 days ✓
- B Elemental zinc 10 mg daily for 14 days
- C Elemental zinc 20 mg daily for 3 days
- D Elemental zinc 45 mg daily for 5 days
Correct answer: A. Elemental zinc 20 mg daily for 14 days
Explanation
For children aged 6 months or older, WHO and UNICEF recommend 20 mg elemental zinc daily for 10 to 14 days during diarrhoea episodes; the 10 mg dose applies only to infants below 6 months. Zinc reduces stool volume, duration of diarrhoea, and recurrence risk over the following two to three months. Short courses of 3 to 5 days do not confer these benefits.
Reference: WHO Pocket Book of Hospital Care for Children, 2nd ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.