Apr 23, 2008 10:27 AM
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More than 10 million children younger than
5 years die every year in the developing world, mostly from preventable
infections. Diarrhea is the second among the most common causes of death
in children. Death is usually due to loss of fluid and electrolytes. It is an
important factor in development of malnutrition. It is one of the principal
causes of morbidity and mortality among children in the developing world. About
4 billion episodes of diarrhea / year cause 1.5 million deaths mostly in
children <5 yrs. Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies
are increasingly recognized as the main risk factor for childhood mortality in
these countries. Micronutrients are important determinants of infection and
their outcomes.
For children under 5 years of age in developing
areas and countries, there is a median of 3.2 episodes of diarrhea/child/year.
This mortality study revealed that 4.9 children per 1000 per year in these
areas and countries died as a result of diarrhoea illness in the first 5 years
of life, a decline from the previous estimates of 13.6 and 5.6 per 1000 per
year. The decrease was most pronounced in children aged less than 1 year.
Despite improving trends in mortality rates, diarrhea continues to account for
a median of 15% of all deaths of children aged less than 5 years in these areas
and countries, being responsible for 1.5 million deaths per year.
STEPS FOR PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA
Proper
case management, consisting of oral dehydration therapy and feeding, can reduce
the adverse effects of diarrhea, which include dehydration, nutritional
damage, and risk of death
Efforts to prevent diarrhea should focus on a few interventions of proven
efficacy. The seven practices identified as targets for promotion are:
1. Breast-feeding;
2. Improved weaning practices;
*3. Use of plenty of water for hygiene and use of clean
water for drinking. *
4. Hand-washing
*5. Use of latrines and safe disposal of the stools of young
children. *
6. Measles immunization.
*Why
Zinc supplementation in diarrhea?*
Zinc
deficiency has direct effects on mucosal functions
•
Disrupts intestinal mucosa
•
Reduces brush border enzymes
•
Increases mucosal permeability
•
Increases intestinal secretion
Zinc is an important micronutrient for
a child's overall health and development. Zinc is lost in greater quantities
during diarrhea; replacing the lost zinc is important to help the child recover
and to keep the child healthy in the coming months. It has been shown that zinc
supplements given during an episode of diarrhea reduce the duration and
severity of the episode, and lower the incidence of diarrhea in the following
2-3 months. Therefore, all patients with diarrhea should be given zinc
supplements as soon as possible after diarrhea has started.
ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION
Zinc is an important micronutrient for a child's overall health and
development. Zinc is lost in greater quantities during diarrhoea; replacing the
lost zinc is important to help the child recover and to keep the child healthy
in the coming months. It has been shown that zinc supplements given during an
episode of diarrhea reduce the duration and severity of the episode, and lower
the incidence of diarrhea in the following 2-3 months. Therefore, all patients
with diarrhea should be given zinc supplements as soon as possible after
diarrhea has started .
Zinc is a crucial micro nutrient because it
affects various immune mechanisms and modulates host resistance to several
pathogens.3 Zinc supplementation reduces morbidity from diarrhea and
pneumonia in high risk populations.
