A 10-month-old infant with acute watery diarrhoea and some dehydration is managed with ORS at a health facility. As part of standard case management, the child should also receive:

• A Elemental zinc 45 mg orally once weekly for 8 weeks
• B Elemental zinc 10 mg orally once daily for 14 days
• C Elemental zinc 20 mg orally once daily for 3 days
• D Elemental zinc 20 mg orally once daily for 14 days ✓

Explanation

WHO and IMNCI recommend adjunctive zinc therapy for all children with acute diarrhoea: 20 mg elemental zinc daily for 14 days in children aged 6 months to 5 years, and 10 mg daily for those below 6 months. Zinc reduces duration and severity of the episode and prevents recurrence for 2 to 3 months. Option B gives the correct duration but the dose reserved for infants under 6 months, which is the key discriminating fact.

Reference: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.