The added benefit of zinc supplementation after zinc treatment of acute childhood diarrhoea: a randomized, double-blind field trial

Objectives To determine whether continuing with zinc supplementation after zinc treatment (ZT) of an acute diarrhoea episode will result in additional clinical benefits beyond ZT alone. Methods Children 6–23 months of age, living in an urban slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh with acute childhood diarrhoea (ACD), were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind field trial. All children received 10 days of ZT (20 mg/day) and were then randomized to zinc (10 mg/day) or placebo supplementation for 3 months. Weekly follow-up of all children occurred over a period of 9 months. Results A total of 353 subjects were enrolled, with 93% of the zinc supplemented and 96% of the placebo children followed for 9 months. The incidence density of ACD among those receiving…