Zinc as an Immunomodulator Agent has been considered as a Novel Treatment for Childhood Infection particularly: Childhood diarrhoea; Pneumonia and Septicemia. More than 1.5 million children under five continue to die each year as a result of acute diarrhea. In India alone, more than 500,000 deaths occur annually due to childhood diarrhoea. The use of zinc along with oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is recommended by WHO to decrease the incidence and severity of diarrhea. Government has adopted policy of use of Zinc in treatment of diarrhoea in National Rural Health Mission in children < 5 years. DBT & WHO have developed simple, easily dispersible & cheap zinc tablets for the National Programme. Bharat Immunologicals & Biologicals Corporation Limited (BIBCOL) a Public Sector Undertaking of the Deptt.of Biotechnology has established GMP production facility for production of Zinc dispersible tablets.

Zinc Dispersible tablets, to be given for management of diarrhea in children aged 2 months to 5 years would provide children with 20 mg of elemental zinc supplementation per day for 10-14 days (10 mg per day for infants less than six months of age). Zinc Dispersible tablets become syrup after adding breast milk or water. The treatment should be started from the first day of diarrhea itself and a 14-day course should be completed even if diarrhea stops. The tablet is not only effective in stopping diarrhea but also prevents subsequent illness.