EC Paediatrics

Objective: To compare the mean duration of diarrhoea with zinc sulphate versus control in children presenting with acute watery diarrhoea due to rota virus.

Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted over a period of 6 months at emergency department of Paediatrics in Mayo Hospital Lahore. Total 560 cases; 280 cases in each group were included. Patients were selected on the basis of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. 280 patients received zinc sulfate 10 mg/day to children < 1 yr. and 20 mg/day > 1 yr. for 7 days and the 280 patients in control group received placebo (Distilled water). Patients were observed in ambulatory through their contact numbers till the resolution of symptoms i.e. reduction in number of stool (< 3/days) and/or normal stool consistency. Duration of resolution of symptoms were noted. All the information was collected on a pre-designed performa. Data entry and analysis was done by using SPSS 19.

Results: Average age of children in Group-A and in Group-B was 21.60 ± 7.27 and 22.42 ± 7.38 weeks. Gender distribution showed that there were 145 (51.78%) male and 135 (48.22%) female children in Group-A and in Group-B there were 143 (51.07%) male and 137 (48.93%) female children. In Group-A mean days of resolution of symptoms was 4.54 ± 0.77 days and in Group-B mean days of resolution of symptoms was 5.40 ± 0.68 days. Minimum and maximum days of resolution in Group-A was 3 and 6 days respectively. While in Group-B minimum and maximum days of resolution of symptoms was 4 and 7 days respectively. In terms of p-value significant difference was seen in both treatment groups for resolution of symptoms. In Group-A symptoms resolve early as compared to that of Group-B children. i.e. (p-value = 0.000)

Conclusion: Zinc supplementation is effective for early resolution of symptoms and reducing frequency of stools in treatment of Rota virus diarrhoea in children.

 Keywords: Rota Virus; Duration of Diarrhoea; Zinc Sulphate; Acute Watery Diarrhoea

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