Zinc supplementation in the management of diarrhea in children

Children with diarrhea often lose a significant amount of zinc and are associated with other dangerous conditions such as dehydration. Zinc deficiency can weaken the immune system of children, and negatively affect the digestive system, increasing the risk of gastrointestinal infections in children. Therefore, zinc supplementation with appropriate dosage is considered a necessity in the treatment regimen of diarrhea in young children.

Currently, shortages of clean water and poor sanitation still exist in many parts of the world. It is also considered a leading cause of diarrheal death in infants and young children, especially those living in low- or middle-income countries.
According to research, more than one million children under 5 years of age succumb to dehydration each year, which is linked to the majority of diarrhea deaths.
It is also estimated that approximately 13% of years lost to disability, ill health or premature death (also known as disease-adjusted life years) are closely related to diarrhea.
It is for these reasons that, today, guidelines for the clinical management of diarrhea in the most vulnerable children worldwide still play a vital and important role. important. However, how to help children recover early, shorten treatment time and reduce the incidence of diarrhea are still unanswered questions.
The following are some simple and effective treatments for clinical control of acute diarrhea in children, including:
Use of low-concentration oral rehydration salts (ORS - Oresol) Supplements Zinc supplements for children with diarrhea Probiotics Antibiotics For children with diarrhea caused by bacteria are usually treated with antibiotics, whereas zinc can be used for most diarrhea in children .
The use of zinc for children with diarrhea not only has the ability to reduce the treatment time, quickly restore intestinal health, but also significantly reduce the recurrence rate of diarrhea in young children.
Moreover, zinc also brings many other great effects to the body, such as strengthening the immune system, preventing some pathogens, developing children's digestive organs, increasing appetite. in children with anorexia or malnutrition. When the child's body is deficient in zinc, it can increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections, adversely affect the structure and function of the gastrointestinal tract, and even cause a weakened immune system.

Currently, zinc supplementation for children with diarrhea is one of the very necessary and important things in the treatment regimen for this disease in young children. A child's immune system always needs a certain amount of zinc to be able to function effectively and fight disease.
However, children with diarrhea often lose a significant amount of zinc. Therefore, parents should supplement in the form of zinc syrup for children with diarrhea to help reduce the duration and severity of the disease, while supporting the immune system, minimizing the risk of outbreaks. New diarrhea in children after treatment.
Should use zinc for children with diarrhea as soon as possible, especially when the child begins to have symptoms of the disease. You should give your child zinc on an empty stomach, as this will help his body absorb the medicine better. Here are some recommendations on the dose of zinc for children with diarrhea that you can refer to:
Children under 6 months: Take 10 milligrams/day and use within 10-14 days. Children over 6 months: Take 20 milligrams/day and use within 10-14 days. You can supplement zinc syrup for children with diarrhea according to the recommended dosage above, but it is necessary to avoid giving too much zinc to children to avoid encountering other health risks. In fact, zinc also works for patients with prolonged diarrhea, diarrhea with bloody stools, not just with acute diarrhea.
In order to limit the use of antibiotics by young children, parents should pay attention to the nutrition that improves the child's resistance. Children need to be supplemented with: lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins, etc. digestive subject.
For more nutritional knowledge and child care for each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading doctors, pediatric and nutrition experts of the National General Hospital. Vinmec when needing advice on children's health.