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Zinc sulphate (Scored dispersible tablets 20 mg)
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Compared to placebo: • May shorten the duration of diarrhoea in children aged >6 months (low quality evidence),• Probably has a larger effect in children with malnutrition (moderate quality evidence). |
Compared to placebo: • May increase the duration of diarrhoea In children aged <6 months (low quality evidence),• Increases vomiting in both age groups (high quality evidence). |
An effect on child mortality has not been reliably demonstrated |
Local manufacture is now in operation |
Although a course of zinc sulphate is relatively cheap, the resource implications may be high due to the burden of disease. |
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Artesunate (60 mg vial for injection plus 5% sodium bicarbonate buffer)
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Compared to quinine: • Lowers mortality (high quality evidence)
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Compared to quinine: • Slightly increases neurological sequelae at hospital discharge (high quality evidence),• Probably doesn't increase long-term neurological sequelae(moderate quality evidence). |
Potential to prevent up to 1,500 childhood deaths per year in Ghana |
Dependent on identification of a reliable supplier |
Change to artesunate may cost the Ghanaian National Malaria Programme an additional US$180,000 per year. |
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Chlorhexidine (4% solution)
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Compared to dry cord care or soap and water: • May reduce neonatal mortality (low quality evidence),• Probably reduces severe and moderate cord infections (moderate quality evidence). |
Compared to dry cord care or soap and water: • None known |
Potential to prevent up to 4,500 neonatal deaths per year in Ghana |
To achieve the effect seen in the trial mothers were visited at home six times, which may not be feasible in Ghana |
No economic evaluations were found |
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Amoxicillin (500 mg/250 mg scored dispersible tablets)
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Compared to suspension: • Improved dose accuracy,• Longer shelf-life with no need for refrigeration,• Less bulky for transport and less susceptible to high temperatures. |
Compared to suspension: • None known |
Probably minimal |
Dependent on identification of a reliable supplier |
Could represent a cost-saving dependant on supplier |
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Caffeine citrate (Injection and oral solution 20 mg/ml; equivalent to 10 mg caffeine base/ml)
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Compared to placebo: • Probably reduces the risk of death >or major disability by late infancy (moderate quality evidence),• Reduces the risk of chronic lung disease (high quality evidence),• Probably reduces the risk of cognitive delay (moderate quality evidence). |
Compared to placebo/theophylline: • Caffeine probably has fewer side-effects than theophylline (moderate quality evidence) |
Prematurity is considered the second major cause of infant mortality in Ghana, however reliable estimates of burden of neonatal apnoea were unavailable |
There are currently no international suppliers of a suitable product |
No price estimates or economic evaluations were found |
