Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Children with Diarrheal Diseases in Regard to Hospital Stay Duration and Cost-Effect Patient Residency

Abstract

Background: Acute infectious gastroenteritis is one of the most common infectious diseases of human, ranking second to acute respiratory tract infections, and it is a worldwide cause of morbidity with a significance cause of death in children below five years, in developing countries.

Objectives: to evaluate effect of zinc supplementation on children admission duration to hospital and their residency for those who had diarrheal diseases.

Methods: In this study, 50 children were enrolled, having the age between 6mth-5yr, they have been admitted for diarrhea in Al-zahraa teaching hospital in Al-najaf governorate for the period of (March-June) 2011. Those patients are subdivided into two group in regard to zinc supplementation as group one who constitute 25 patients managed without zinc given, while other 25 patients designed as group two who received 20 mg elemental zinc for 14 days of starting day, serum zinc level was recorded for each group, and the duration of their hospital stay was recorded spss and chi square.

Result: the study showed that using zinc tablets has a good effect on the duration of hospital stay, as 52% of those children (group-2) who received zinc were discharged after 3 days of admission in comparison to 3 (12%) of those children (group-1) who have not received zinc tablet.

Conclusion: using zinc tablet for every child admitted to hospital because of diarrhea will shortens patient residency and time of hospital stay.

Recommendation: We recommend; (1) Adding zinc for every child presented with diarrhea whether admitted to hospital or treated as out- patient. (2) Further studies are required to assess the benefit of adding other trace element to the management such as vitamin-A and copper.