Recommended daily dose of zinc for management of diarrhea in children (as per WHO):

NORCET 9 Mains - 2025

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 9 Mains - 2025

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have established clear, age-based guidelines for zinc supplementation during acute diarrheal episodes in children.
For infants younger than 6 months, the recommended daily dose is 10 mg of elemental zinc.
For children aged 6 months to 5 years, the recommended daily dose is 20 mg of elemental zinc.
This supplementation should be given for a full 10-14 day course, in conjunction with low-osmolarity Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and continued feeding.
This regimen is proven to shorten the duration and severity of diarrhea and reduce the risk of subsequent episodes for 2-3 months.

Option B: A dose of 5 mg/day is sub-therapeutic and too low to provide the intended benefits of reducing the duration and severity of diarrhea.
Option C: A single dose of 15 mg for all children is incorrect because the WHO recommendation is age-specific. This would overdose an infant under 6 months and underdose a child over 6 months.
Option D: A dose of 25 mg/day is higher than the WHO recommendation of 20 mg for children over 6 months. Higher doses do not offer increased efficacy and may increase the risk of adverse effects, particularly vomiting.

Visual 1: Infographic: A clear table showing the age-based WHO guidelines for zinc dosage and duration in childhood diarrhea.
Visual 2: Diagram: A flowchart illustrating the '3-pronged approach' to diarrhea management: ORS for rehydration, Zinc for treatment, and continued feeding for nutrition.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing WHO guidelines for zinc supplementation in childhood diarrhea helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Zinc supplementation combined with ORS is the cornerstone of managing acute diarrhea in children and significantly reduces mortality and morbidity.
Nurses play a crucial role in educating caregivers on the correct administration, duration, and importance of completing the full 14-day zinc course, even if the child recovers sooner.
What if the child vomits immediately after taking the zinc tablet? The nurse should advise the caregiver to re-administer the dose if vomiting occurs within 30 minutes of the initial administration.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: 'recommended daily dose,' 'zinc,' 'diarrhea in children,' and 'WHO.' This points to a factual recall question based on international guidelines.
Recall that the WHO guidelines for zinc are not a single dose for all ages but are stratified based on age.
This knowledge allows you to immediately question options that suggest a single dose for all children (like 5 mg or 15 mg).
Focus on the age-specific options. Remember the two key age groups: under 6 months and over 6 months.
Recall the specific dosages for these groups: 10 mg for the younger infants and 20 mg for the older children.
Select the option that correctly matches these age groups with their respective dosages.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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