A clinical study of zinc supplementation in children with fast breathing and breathing difficulty

INTERVENTION: Intervention1: Zinc: 20 mg once a day orally for 5 days Control Intervention1: Placebo: CONDITION: Severe acute lower respiratory tract infection PRIMARY OUTCOME: Time to be asymptomatic‐‐‐‐‐‐Timepoint: defined as resolution of all four of the following: respiratory distress, tachypnoea, hypoxia in room air and systemic danger signs SECONDARY OUTCOME: Duration of hospital stay‐‐‐‐‐‐Timepoint: measured at discharge from hospital INCLUSION CRITERIA: Children aged 2‐24 months presenting with tachypnoea and either chest retractions or one of the following danger signs: cyanosis, inability to feed/drink, lethargy and convulsions