According to WHO recommendations adopted in India's diarrhoea management guidelines, zinc supplementation given alongside ORS to a 2-year-old child with acute diarrhoea should be:

• A 40 mg elemental zinc daily for 7 days
• B 20 mg elemental zinc daily for 5 days
• C 20 mg elemental zinc daily for 14 days ✓
• D 10 mg elemental zinc daily for 14 days

Explanation

WHO recommends elemental zinc 20 mg once daily for 14 days for children aged 6 months to 5 years, and 10 mg daily for 14 days for infants below 6 months. Zinc reduces stool volume, shortens episode duration, and prevents recurrence for two to three months. The 10 mg dose applies only to younger infants, and the 14-day duration is fixed regardless of when the episode resolves.

Reference: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.