this is in response to the article by SK Roy on zinc supplementation
in children with cholera. i would like to congratulate the author on such
a nice paper. i would like to respond on some issues regarding paper.
**** in table 1. of baseline characteristics .
(Weight (kg) 17.3 (6.1) 16.7 (5.1) 0.472); here there is difference in the
mean weight among groups, although not statistically significant but
clinically it has an impact. i would like to add also that it become
statistically significant when author mentioned (Weight for age median (%
of NCHS median) (74.9 (11.1) 71.7 (8.9) 0.033. i think it looks more
explanation particularly in developing world.
**** regarding Zinc dosages and duration of treatment.
author mentioned that zinc supplementation of 30 mg/ day until resolution
of diarrhea or for total 7 days. i am bit concern because the according to
WHO recommendation the oral zinc therapy (age groups enrolled by author)is
20 mg / day for 14 days. although there must be some rationale of giving
this dosage and duration in this study but unfortunately the readers were
blinded for that.
**** regarding table 3
since oral zinc therapy was introduced in one arm, the rationale of serum
zinc level is not really looks understanding. it must be high in someone
who received oral zinc therapy as compare to someone who did not. again it
was not mentioned the mean duration of oral zinc therapy received by
interventional arm, which causes a little discomfort in swallowing the
results.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
14 May 2008
Ali Faisal Saleem
Resident Pediatrics.
Resident Pediatrics, The Aga Khan University hospital Karachi. 74800.
Rapid Response:
Zinc supplementation in children with cholera.
this is in response to the article by SK Roy on zinc supplementation
in children with cholera. i would like to congratulate the author on such
a nice paper. i would like to respond on some issues regarding paper.
**** in table 1. of baseline characteristics .
(Weight (kg) 17.3 (6.1) 16.7 (5.1) 0.472); here there is difference in the
mean weight among groups, although not statistically significant but
clinically it has an impact. i would like to add also that it become
statistically significant when author mentioned (Weight for age median (%
of NCHS median) (74.9 (11.1) 71.7 (8.9) 0.033. i think it looks more
explanation particularly in developing world.
**** regarding Zinc dosages and duration of treatment.
author mentioned that zinc supplementation of 30 mg/ day until resolution
of diarrhea or for total 7 days. i am bit concern because the according to
WHO recommendation the oral zinc therapy (age groups enrolled by author)is
20 mg / day for 14 days. although there must be some rationale of giving
this dosage and duration in this study but unfortunately the readers were
blinded for that.
**** regarding table 3
since oral zinc therapy was introduced in one arm, the rationale of serum
zinc level is not really looks understanding. it must be high in someone
who received oral zinc therapy as compare to someone who did not. again it
was not mentioned the mean duration of oral zinc therapy received by
interventional arm, which causes a little discomfort in swallowing the
results.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests