Zinc: The Magic Potion for Treatment of Diarrhoea

Experts from a US based institute have confirmed that Diarrhoea - the second biggest infant killer in India can be controlled effectively by use of zinc supplements along with the oral re hydration salt(ORS)

The death toll due to 'Diarrhoea' surpass that of Malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis put together. This calls for an implementation of effective therapies, opined experts and doctors in a symposium held here on Friday.

Diarrhoea is one of the prime causes of death in children under the age of five worldwide. Two million children and an additional four million die due to “Diarrhoea” every year worldwide.

Prof Henry Binder of Yale University, an authority on diarrhoeal research has confirmed that the health of an infant or a child with diarrhoea can dramatically be changed with the zinc supplement along with ORS.

Prof Binder said that a dose of 20 mg a day of zinc for 14 days to an infant not only controls diarrhoea but also hastens recovery from pneumonia and helps in decreasing the respiratory risk factors. The supplement can be given in powder and tablet form, he added.

Distinguished medical practitioners highlighted the clinical evidence of the success of zinc as an effective therapy for diarrhoea in the symposium: 'Current Trends in Diarrhoeal Diseases Research and Case Management' organized by One World Health (iOWH) an US-based non-profit pharmaceutical company

Developmental, preventive, psychological and social aspects associated with various childhood disabilities and diseases were also discussed in the symposium.

Prof. Henry Binder from Yale University Mechanisms elaborated on the action of various anti-diarrhoeal agents with an emphasis on zinc’s mechanism of action and other anti-secretory approaches while Mr Deepak Saksena, POUZN project country director, India delivered a lecture on innovative strategies for the introduction of zinc in India.

IOWH has a special focus on treatment for young infants and children. It aims to develop new treatments for diarrhoea, particularly anti-secretory drugs. Targeting host mechanisms such as the CFTR channel is a novel approach to the treatment of diarrhoea.

iOWH’s co-founder and chief medical officer, Mr Ahvie Herskowitz, former president of IAP, Dr HPS Sachdev and senior programme director, Dr Susan Wilson were among others who attended the program.

Source-Medindia
SPH/M