Effect of Zinc Supplementation in Young Infants Aged 1-6 Months on Incidence of Acute Diarrhea and Growth

Abstract

Diarrhea is the secord leading cause of death, accounting for 18 percent of the 10.6 million deaths in children younger than five years. Malnutrition is an underlying risk factor for 61 per cent of all childhood deaths associated with diarrhea'. In addition to causing mortality, diarrhea is an important determinant of growth faltering in th e developing world. One of the major advances in the reduction of mortality from diarrhea was the introduction of WHO Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), however, WHO ORS does not significantly decreases stool output and duration of diarrhea and therefore other treatment approaches were sought.