An Update on WHO Recommendations on Childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhea (2024).

The 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines present important updates in the management of pneumonia and diarrhea in children. There is a conditional recommendation of a reduced zinc dose-5 mg daily for up to 14 days-for children up to 10 years of age with acute watery or persistent diarrhea, intended to lower the risk of vomiting while preserving therapeutic efficacy. Antibiotic use is discouraged for acute watery diarrhea, except in cases with visible blood in stool, where ciprofloxacin remains the first-line treatment. Probiotics are not recommended due to low-certainty evidence and concerns about feasibility. Oral amoxicillin continues to the first-line treatment for children aged 2-59 months with fast breathing or chest indrawing. These cases can be managed effectively even in community settings. Substantial knowledge gaps persist regarding the best antibiotic regimens and clinical diagnostic strategies for pneumonia in children aged 5-9 years.