Cost-effectiveness of zinc as adjunct therapy for acute childhood diarrhoea in developing countries

This article from the Bulletin of the World Health Organization reports on a study in Tanzania which examined the costs, effects and cost-effectiveness of adding zinc to standard treatment of acute childhood diarrhoea, including dysentery. The study found that oral rehydration salts, the standard therapy, was less cost-effective than expected, costing more than four times as much per disability-adjusted life year averted than had previously been reported. However, cost-effectiveness improved significantly on adding zinc to the treatment, both for dysenteric and non-dysenteric diarrhoea. Results were particularly sensitive to mortality rates for non-dysenteric diarrhoea. There were no indications of great geographical differences in efficacy of zinc.

The authors conclude that there is enough evidence to recommend inclusion of zinc in standard case management of acute childhood diarrhoea, including dysentery. Further research is needed to determine whether these findings can be transferred to other countries. The lack of geographical differences in its efficacy suggests that it has a similar potential benefit in African, Asian and Latin American countries. [adapted from author]