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Treating Viral Diarrhea in Children by Probiotic and Zinc Supplements

Shokoufeh Ahmadipour1,2, Azam Mohsenzadeh1, Hosein Alimadadi2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
|March 23, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Zinc supplementation was more effective than probiotics in reducing the duration and frequency of acute diarrhea in young children. Zinc also resulted in fewer complications compared to probiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Gastroenterology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Acute diarrhea is a common childhood illness, particularly in children aged 6 months to 2 years.
  • Probiotics and zinc are commonly used interventions, but their comparative efficacy requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effectiveness of zinc supplements versus probiotics in treating acute diarrhea in young children.
  • To analyze the impact of these interventions on diarrhea duration, frequency, and associated complications.

Main Methods:

  • A clinical trial involving infants aged 6 months to 2 years divided into three groups: zinc supplementation, probiotic supplementation, and a control group.
  • Evaluation of diarrhea frequency, duration of hospitalization, and persistence over 3-7 days.

Main Results:

  • Diarrhea persisted longer in the probiotic group compared to the zinc group, with significantly higher relative risks and incidences of persistence.
  • Zinc supplementation showed a significantly lower percentage of post-treatment complications (2.6%) compared to probiotics (35.5%).

Conclusions:

  • Zinc supplementation (20 mg) demonstrated superior effectiveness over probiotics in managing acute diarrhea in children.
  • Zinc supplementation is associated with a lower risk of complications compared to probiotic use.
Abstract

Keywords:
DiarrheaPediatricsProbioticsViral diarrheaZinc

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