# Shigellosis (Bacterial Dysentery) - Category: acute - Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page) - Sources: Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Azithromycin monograph, PDF page index 267-268 (printed p258-259), "General dosing, susceptible infection". Note: this monograph lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication - the dose shown is the formulary's general azithromycin course, not an indication-matched regimen. If the project requires indication-matched sourcing, this row needs a WHO or CDC diarrhoeal-disease citation instead. · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Ciprofloxacin monograph, PDF page index 373-374 (printed p364-365). The formulary lists "infectious diarrhea" as an adult indication but attaches no dose to it; the 500 mg every 12 hours figure is taken from its nontyphoidal Salmonella GI regimen. There is no shigellosis, campylobacter or Yersinia enterocolitica regimen in this monograph. · WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 (IRIS 10665/43209), section 4.3.1 and Table 2 · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (ceftriaxone injectable monograph: "Severe bacterial infections: septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia, typhoid fever, shigellosis..."), with the paediatric shigella course from WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005, antimicrobial table, Shigella dysentery · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (zinc sulfate oral monograph: "Adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in the event of acute and/or persistent diarrhoea in children under 5 years"), corroborated by WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 · Shigellosis - disease-level clinical article (shigellosis-full.txt) - Verified date: 2026-08 ## Verified against - Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Azithromycin monograph, PDF page index 267-268 (printed p258-259), "General dosing, susceptible infection". Note: this monograph lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication - the dose shown is the formulary's general azithromycin course, not an indication-matched regimen. - Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Ciprofloxacin monograph, PDF page index 373-374 (printed p364-365). The formulary lists "infectious diarrhea" as an adult indication but attaches no dose to it; the 500 mg every 12 hours figure is taken from its nontyphoidal Salmonella GI regimen. There is no shigellosis, campylobacter or Yersinia enterocolitica regimen in this monograph. - WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 (IRIS 10665/43209), section 4.3.1 and Table 2 - Shigellosis - disease-level clinical article (shigellosis-full.txt) - Shigellosis (Bacterial Dysentery) - disease-level clinical article (shigellosis-clinical.txt) - MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (ceftriaxone injectable monograph: "Severe bacterial infections: septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia, typhoid fever, shigellosis..."), with the paediatric shigella course from WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005, antimicrobial table, Shigella dysentery - MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (zinc sulfate oral monograph: "Adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in the event of acute and/or persistent diarrhoea in children under 5 years"), corroborated by WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 ## Treatment metadata - ORS — oral.solution - Referral & safety-netting (no drug therapy) - Ciprofloxacin — 500 mg — oral.solid - Azithromycin — 500 mg — oral.solid - Ceftriaxone — 1000 mg — injection - Zinc sulphate — 20 mg — oral.solid ## Complete treatment card ```text SHIGELLOSIS (BACTERIAL DYSENTERY) Sources: Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Azithromycin monograph, PDF page index 267-268 (printed p258-259), "General dosing, susceptible infection". Note: this monograph lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication - the dose shown is the formulary's general azithromycin course, not an indication-matched regimen. If the project requires indication-matched sourcing, this row needs a WHO or CDC diarrhoeal-disease citation instead. · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Ciprofloxacin monograph, PDF page index 373-374 (printed p364-365). The formulary lists "infectious diarrhea" as an adult indication but attaches no dose to it; the 500 mg every 12 hours figure is taken from its nontyphoidal Salmonella GI regimen. There is no shigellosis, campylobacter or Yersinia enterocolitica regimen in this monograph. · WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 (IRIS 10665/43209), section 4.3.1 and Table 2 · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (ceftriaxone injectable monograph: "Severe bacterial infections: septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia, typhoid fever, shigellosis..."), with the paediatric shigella course from WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005, antimicrobial table, Shigella dysentery · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (zinc sulfate oral monograph: "Adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in the event of acute and/or persistent diarrhoea in children under 5 years"), corroborated by WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 · Shigellosis - disease-level clinical article (shigellosis-full.txt) Review status: REVIEWED against Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Azithromycin monograph, PDF page index 267-268 (printed p258-259), "General dosing, susceptible infection". Note: this monograph lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication - the dose shown is the formulary's general azithromycin course, not an indication-matched regimen., Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Ciprofloxacin monograph, PDF page index 373-374 (printed p364-365). The formulary lists "infectious diarrhea" as an adult indication but attaches no dose to it; the 500 mg every 12 hours figure is taken from its nontyphoidal Salmonella GI regimen. There is no shigellosis, campylobacter or Yersinia enterocolitica regimen in this monograph., WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 (IRIS 10665/43209), section 4.3.1 and Table 2, Shigellosis - disease-level clinical article (shigellosis-full.txt), Shigellosis (Bacterial Dysentery) - disease-level clinical article (shigellosis- clinical.txt), MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (ceftriaxone injectable monograph: "Severe bacterial infections: septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia, typhoid fever, shigellosis..."), with the paediatric shigella course from WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005, antimicrobial table, Shigella dysentery, MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (zinc sulfate oral monograph: "Adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in the event of acute and/or persistent diarrhoea in children under 5 years"), corroborated by WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 (2026-08) IS IT THIS? - reference only, to read alongside your own examination SYMPTOMS - what the patient reports (4) - Most patients report abdominal pain that ranges from mild discomfort to severe, diffuse, cramping pain [abdominal pain · muscle cramps] - Small-volume mucus-streaked diarrhea is common, and roughly a third to half of patients notice blood in the stool [bloody diarrhoea · diarrhoea] - Fever, poor appetite, tiredness, and straining without result commonly accompany the diarrhea [fatigue · fever · poor appetite] - The species that causes watery-only illness differs from the species more likely to cause bloody stools [bloody diarrhoea · diarrhoea] SIGNS - what you find (3) - Fever with a fast heart rate, fast breathing, or low blood pressure points to more severe illness or dehydration [dehydration · fever · hypotension · tachycardia · tachypnoea] - The abdomen can range from unremarkable to distended and tender, with overactive bowel sounds, especially on the left - Severe disease can progress to confusion, seizures, meningeal signs, or coma [coma · confusion · seizures] TESTS (7) - A stool sample sent for culture is preferred over a rectal swab for diagnosis - About seven in ten stool specimens show white cells and blood on microscopy - Rapid molecular stool tests cannot tell the invasive E coli apart from Shigella or give drug susceptibility, so culture is still needed - Bloodstream spread is uncommon but raises the risk of death, especially at the extremes of age or with immune compromise - A blood count in severe disease can show a raised white count with immature forms, plus anemia or a low platelet count - Anemia from red cell fragmentation together with a low platelet count and kidney failure should raise suspicion for hemolytic uremic syndrome - A rise in blood urea and creatinine may reflect dehydration or hemolytic uremic syndrome IF NOT THIS - what else fits (4) - Nontyphoidal Salmonella infection can produce the same fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain picture - Invasive or hemorrhagic strains of E coli are on the differential for the same acute picture - Amoebic infection is a differential to consider for a similar dysentery-like picture - When diarrhea becomes chronic, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome enter the differential Source StatPearls "Shigellosis" - disease-level clinical article Status traced to the source above Rx: Main treatment | Parenteral antibiotic - WHO alternative, especially in children | Adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in children under 5 MAIN TREATMENT - choose one 1. ORS [1st line] Adult Plan A (no dehydration): Drink as much ORS solution / fluid as desired after each loose stool. Plan B (some dehydration): 2,200 to 4,000 mL of ORS solution over the first 4 hours (up to 750 mL/hour), then reassess. - Until diarrhoea stops Peds Under 2 years: 50 to 100 mL of ORS after each loose stool (Plan A, no dehydration). With some dehydration, Plan B is by weight at any age. 2 to 10 years: 100 to 200 mL of ORS after each loose stool (Plan A, no dehydration). With some dehydration, Plan B is by weight at any age. (Plan B (some dehydration): give the child's weight in kg x 75 mL of ORS solution in the first 4 hours, then reassess. Plan A (no dehydration): 50-100 mL after each loose stool under 2 years, 100-200 mL from 2 to 10 years.) Source WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 (IRIS 10665/43209), section 4.3.1 and Table 2 Why Core supportive treatment for bacillary dysentery; fluid and electrolyte replacement is needed whether or not antibiotics are given. Caution Give to all patients regardless of antibiotic use. Watch for dehydration, especially in young children and the elderly. Use the higher-volume cholera regimen only if profuse watery stool suggests cholera rather than dysentery. RED FLAG - High fever, bloody or mucoid stool, signs of dehydration, seizures in a child, or a suspected outbreak or cluster of cases. Egypt GLUCOHYDRAN 10 SACHET. ARAB DRUG COM... 1.75 EGP REHYDRAN N 10 SACHET CID 4.50 EGP REHYDRO ZINC 10 SACHETS CID 7.00 EGP ORS 20 SACHETS PHAROPHARMA 40.00 EGP ELECTRO MASH SYRUP 200 ML MASH PREMIERE 60.00 EGP FLEXOLYTE ORAL REHYDRATION SOL. 240 ML KEMPETRO FOR CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES 65.00 EGP HERO ORS 200 ML HERO > HERO M... 120.00 EGP SANSO ORS SYRUP 140 ML AUG PHARMA 400.00 EGP 2. REFERRAL & SAFETY-NETTING (NO DRUG THERAPY) [1st line] Adult Source Shigellosis - disease-level clinical article (shigellosis-full.txt) Why Carries the referral criteria and warning signs for this condition, which apply whichever treatment is chosen. Caution RED FLAG - The parenteral antibiotic escalation criteria in children are sepsis, bacteremia, fever above 39C, immunosuppression, HIV, or inability to take oral medication. 3. CIPROFLOXACIN [2nd line] Adult 500 mg by mouth every 12 hours. x 3 days Peds 10 mg/kg/dose [child max 500 mg] (Formulary general paediatric dosing for mild to moderate infection: 10 mg/kg per dose twice daily by mouth (immediate release), maximum 500 mg per dose. The formulary's 15 to 20 mg/kg per dose figure is for severe infection and carries a 750 mg per- dose maximum - do not pair 15 mg/kg with a 500 mg cap. Ciprofloxacin is not first-line in children and the formulary gives no paediatric enteric-infection regimen.) 3kg -> 30 mg/dose 4kg -> 40 mg/dose 5kg -> 50 mg/dose 6kg -> 60 mg/dose 7kg -> 70 mg/dose 8kg -> 80 mg/dose 9kg -> 90 mg/dose 10kg -> 100 mg/dose 11kg -> 110 mg/dose 12kg -> 120 mg/dose 13kg -> 130 mg/dose 14kg -> 140 mg/dose 15kg -> 150 mg/dose 16kg -> 160 mg/dose 17kg -> 170 mg/dose 18kg -> 180 mg/dose 19kg -> 190 mg/dose 20kg -> 200 mg/dose 21kg -> 210 mg/dose 22kg -> 220 mg/dose 23kg -> 230 mg/dose 24kg -> 240 mg/dose 25kg -> 250 mg/dose 26kg -> 260 mg/dose 27kg -> 270 mg/dose 28kg -> 280 mg/dose 29kg -> 290 mg/dose 30kg -> 300 mg/dose 31kg -> 310 mg/dose 32kg -> 320 mg/dose 33kg -> 330 mg/dose 34kg -> 340 mg/dose 35kg -> 350 mg/dose 36kg -> 360 mg/dose 37kg -> 370 mg/dose 38kg -> 380 mg/dose 39kg -> 390 mg/dose 40kg -> 400 mg/dose 41kg -> 410 mg/dose 42kg -> 420 mg/dose 43kg -> 430 mg/dose 44kg -> 440 mg/dose 45kg -> 450 mg/dose 46kg -> 460 mg/dose 47kg -> 470 mg/dose 48kg -> 480 mg/dose 49kg -> 490 mg/dose 50kg -> 500 mg/dose AWaRe WATCH group - carries resistance cost. Egyptian EML 2025. Source Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Ciprofloxacin monograph, PDF page index 373-374 (printed p364-365). The formulary lists "infectious diarrhea" as an adult indication but attaches no dose to it; the 500 mg every 12 hours figure is taken from its nontyphoidal Salmonella GI regimen. There is no shigellosis, campylobacter or Yersinia enterocolitica regimen in this monograph. Why A 3-day course of ciprofloxacin is the standard empiric antibiotic for shigellosis presenting as bloody dysentery. Caution Not routinely first-line in children (formulary note). The only Yersinia entry in this monograph is plague (Yersinia pestis), a different organism from the yersiniosis on this row - that condition has no formulary support here. The formulary reserves this enteric regimen for severe illness or patients at high risk of invasive disease. Classic empiric antibiotic for bacillary dysentery (bloody, mucoid stool with fever). Tendinitis/tendon rupture, QT prolongation, and glycaemic swings are class risks. Administer orally at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after antacids or other products containing calcium, iron, or zinc. WHO lists a second oral alternative that cannot be prescribed in Egypt - pivmecillinam, at 20 mg/kg 4 times daily for 5 days in a child, and 400 mg 4 times daily for 5 days in an adult. The Egyptian register contains no pivmecillinam product of any kind, so it is recorded here rather than offered as an option. Egypt QUINOLOROX 500MG 10 F.C. TAB. EPCI > ROXXEN 10.00 EGP (1.00/unit) ECACIPROFLOX 500 MG 20 F.C. TABS. FUTURE PHARMACEUTICAL INDU... 27.00 EGP (1.35/unit) ELMODOXACIN 500MG 10 F.C.TAB. EGPI > SEA PHARM 20.00 EGP (2.00/unit) CIPROQUIN 500MG 10 F.C. TAB. UNIPHARMA 50.00 EGP (5.00/unit) CIPROFLOXACIN-ORGANO 500 MG 10 F.C.TABS. ORGANOPHARMA > ORGANO 63.00 EGP (6.30/unit) CIPROFAR 500MG 10 F.C.TAB. PHARCO 69.00 EGP (6.90/unit) CIPROMEGA XL 500MG 10 EXT. REL. F.C.TABS. MASH PREMIERE 48.00 EGP HEROXACIN 500MG 10 SCORED F.C. TAB. EGPI > HERO PHARM 69.00 EGP 4. AZITHROMYCIN [3rd line] Adult 500 mg once daily x 3 days Peds Formulary general dosing for susceptible infection, oral: 10 to 12 mg/kg as a single dose on day 1 (maximum 500 mg), then 5 to 6 mg/kg once daily (maximum 250 mg) for the rest of the course. The day-1 dose and the maintenance dose are different - do not give 10 mg/kg every day. (The flat 10 mg/kg once daily, max 500 mg, is the formulary's intravenous figure.) AWaRe WATCH group - carries resistance cost. Egyptian EML 2025. Source Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023, Azithromycin monograph, PDF page index 267-268 (printed p258-259), "General dosing, susceptible infection". Note: this monograph lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication - the dose shown is the formulary's general azithromycin course, not an indication-matched regimen. Why Effective alternative antibiotic for shigellosis, particularly when a fluoroquinolone is undesirable. Caution Paediatric regimen is a day-1 loading dose then a halved daily dose - it cannot be calculated from a single mg/kg figure. The Egyptian formulary lists no shigellosis or campylobacter indication for azithromycin; the dose shown is its general susceptible-infection dosing. Alternative to ciprofloxacin, useful in pregnancy, children, or where fluoroquinolone resistance or intolerance is a concern. QT prolongation risk with other QT-prolonging drugs. 3-day course; reassess if there is no improvement. Egypt AZATRIBACT 500MG 3 CAPS. RIVA PHARMA S... 13.50 EGP (4.50/unit) GIGAZOCIN 500MG 5 CAPS. EGPI > PIONEER 27.50 EGP (5.50/unit) SYSTYMYCIN 500MG 3 CAPS. EGPI > NOVELL... 21.50 EGP (7.17/unit) AZITHROMASH 500 MG 3 F.C. TABS. MASH PREMIERE 48.00 EGP (16.00/unit) AZALIDE 500MG 3 CAPS. UP PHARMA 52.00 EGP (17.33/unit) AZROLID 500 MG 6 F.C.TABS. AMRIYA 126.00 EGP (21.00/unit) ZERAMERATE 500 MG EGPI > GAMMA ... 28.50 EGP DISTABCIN 500 MG 3 DISPERSIBLE TABS. EGPI 43.50 EGP ZITHRODOSE 100MG/5ML SUSP. 15ML EL-OBOUR > AV... 12.00 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral solid ZITHROPHATE 200MG/5ML SUSP. 15ML ORGANO PHARMA... 12.75 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral solid PARENTERAL ANTIBIOTIC - WHO ALTERNATIVE, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN 5. CEFTRIAXONE [3rd line] Adult 1 to 2 g once daily Peds 50-100 mg/kg/day [child max 4000 mg] (MSF, child 1 month and over and under 50 kg: 50 to 100 mg/kg (maximum 4 g) once daily. The WHO diarrhoea manual gives the shigella course itself: children 50-100 mg/kg once a day IM for 2 to 5 days. Child 50 kg and over is dosed as an adult.) 3kg -> 150-300 mg/day 4kg -> 200-400 mg/day 5kg -> 250-500 mg/day 6kg -> 300-600 mg/day 7kg -> 350-700 mg/day 8kg -> 400-800 mg/day 9kg -> 450-900 mg/day 10kg -> 500-1000 mg/day 11kg -> 550-1100 mg/day 12kg -> 600-1200 mg/day 13kg -> 650-1300 mg/day 14kg -> 700-1400 mg/day 15kg -> 750-1500 mg/day 16kg -> 800-1600 mg/day 17kg -> 850-1700 mg/day 18kg -> 900-1800 mg/day 19kg -> 950-1900 mg/day 20kg -> 1000-2000 mg/day 21kg -> 1050-2100 mg/day 22kg -> 1100-2200 mg/day 23kg -> 1150-2300 mg/day 24kg -> 1200-2400 mg/day 25kg -> 1250-2500 mg/day 26kg -> 1300-2600 mg/day 27kg -> 1350-2700 mg/day 28kg -> 1400-2800 mg/day 29kg -> 1450-2900 mg/day 30kg -> 1500-3000 mg/day 31kg -> 1550-3100 mg/day 32kg -> 1600-3200 mg/day 33kg -> 1650-3300 mg/day 34kg -> 1700-3400 mg/day 35kg -> 1750-3500 mg/day 36kg -> 1800-3600 mg/day 37kg -> 1850-3700 mg/day 38kg -> 1900-3800 mg/day 39kg -> 1950-3900 mg/day 40kg -> 2000-4000 mg/day 41kg -> 2050-4000 mg/day (upper capped) 42kg -> 2100-4000 mg/day (upper capped) 43kg -> 2150-4000 mg/day (upper capped) 44kg -> 2200-4000 mg/day (upper capped) 45kg -> 2250-4000 mg/day (upper capped) 46kg -> 2300-4000 mg/day (upper capped) 47kg -> 2350-4000 mg/day (upper capped) 48kg -> 2400-4000 mg/day (upper capped) 49kg -> 2450-4000 mg/day (upper capped) 50kg -> 2500-4000 mg/day (upper capped) AWaRe WATCH group - carries resistance cost. Egyptian EML 2025. Source MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (ceftriaxone injectable monograph: "Severe bacterial infections: septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia, typhoid fever, shigellosis..."), with the paediatric shigella course from WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005, antimicrobial table, Shigella dysentery Why The disease article states that for children the WHO recommends ciprofloxacin, pivmecillinam or ceftriaxone. The card carried ciprofloxacin and azithromycin only - no parenteral option for a child who cannot keep oral therapy down. MSF names shigellosis explicitly in ceftriaxone's own indications, and the WHO diarrhoea manual gives the paediatric shigella course. Pivmecillinam, the third WHO option, is NOT on this card: it has no product at all in the Egyptian register, so the row would have carried no brand a Cairo prescriber could dispense. Caution Do not administer to patients with allergy to cephalosporins or penicillins (cross- sensitivity may occur) and to neonates with jaundice (risk of bilirubin encephalopathy) or receiving calcium gluconate. Duration varies according to indication and clinical response. Change to oral treatment as soon as possible. The solvent containing lidocaine is for IM injection only - DO NOT ADMINISTER BY IV INJECTION OR INFUSION the solution reconstituted with this solvent. Egypt ZOXIDEL 1 GM PD. FOR I.M. INJ. RAMEDA > DELT... 22.00 EGP CEFTRIAXONE SODIUM 1 GM I.M.VIAL (KAHIRA) KAHIRA 29.00 EGP ZOXIDEL 1 GM PD. FOR I.V. INJ. RAMEDA > DELT... 29.00 EGP WINTRIAXONE 1 GM PD. FOR I.V INJ. SANOFI 48.00 EGP VOTRIAXONE 1 GM I.M VIAL CHEMIPHARM 56.00 EGP OFRAMAX 1 GM I.M. VIAL RAMEDA > SUN ... 71.00 EGP TRIAXONE 1 GM I.M. VIAL TABUK PHARMAC... 106.00 EGP TRIAXONE 1 GM I.V VIAL TABUK PHARMAC... 106.00 EGP ADJUNCT TO ORAL REHYDRATION THERAPY IN CHILDREN UNDER 5 - give alongside 6. ZINC SULPHATE [add-on - not a substitute] Adult No adult dose is stated - the indication is limited to children under 5 years (see paediatric dosing) Peds Under 6 months: 10 mg (half a 20 mg dispersible tablet) once daily for 10 days 6 months to 5 years: 20 mg (one tablet) once daily for 10 days (MSF: child under 6 months, 10 mg (half a 20 mg dispersible tablet) once daily for 10 days; child from 6 months to 5 years, 20 mg (one tablet) once daily for 10 days. WHO gives the same range over a slightly longer course: 10-20 mg/day for 10 to 14 days.) Source MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (zinc sulfate oral monograph: "Adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in the event of acute and/or persistent diarrhoea in children under 5 years"), corroborated by WHO. The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers, 4th rev. Geneva: WHO; 2005 Why The disease article says zinc supplements should be given to children with watery diarrhoea; the card carried ORS without it. MSF indicates zinc sulfate as an adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in acute or persistent diarrhoea in children under 5 and gives the doses; the WHO diarrhoea manual recommends 10-20 mg/day for 10 to 14 days for all children with diarrhoea. Named Zinc sulphate rather than MSF's Zinc sulfate because that is how the Egyptian register spells it (6 single-ingredient products); same salt. Caution Zinc sulfate must never replace oral rehydration therapy which is essential (nor can it replace antibiotic therapy that may, in specific cases, be necessary). If the child vomits within 30 minutes after swallowing the tablet, re-administer the dose. Do not give simultaneously with ferrous salts, administer at least 2 hours apart. Place the half-tablet or full tablet in a teaspoon, add a bit of water to dissolve it, and give the entire spoonful to the child. Egypt ZINCOSAFE 11 MG 100 CAPS. SAFE PHARMA 50.00 EGP (0.50/unit) -> ? strength differs ZINC STRONG 20 CAPS. NAPCO 29.00 EGP (1.45/unit) -> ? strength differs ARABZINC 50 MG 30 TABS. ARAB CAPS > K... 45.00 EGP (1.50/unit) -> ? strength differs GREEN & LEAN ZINC 50 MG 30 CAPS. > ALTONA HEALTH 48.00 EGP (1.60/unit) -> ? strength differs MONO ZINC 20 F.C. TABS. ARAB CAPS > B... 41.25 EGP (2.06/unit) -> ? strength differs ALL ONE ZINC 50 MG 30 TABS. MOZN PHARMACE... 80.00 EGP (2.67/unit) -> ? strength differs OCTOZINC 25 MG 100*10 CAPS. OCTOBER PHARMA 850.00 EGP (85.00/unit) -> ? strength differs ZINC PICOLINATE 50 MG 120 VEG. CAPS. (NOW) NOW FOODS > SOFICOPHARM 1300.00 EGP -> ? strength differs ZINC SULFATE 10MG/5ML POWDER FOR SYRUP CID 5.00 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral solid ZINC-SEDICO 10MG/5ML PD. FOR ORAL SOL. SEDICO 7.00 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral solid Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy. ``` --- Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement. [Privacy policy](/privacy)