1) Rececadotril has shown some benefits in studies in acute diarrhea including in Rota virus diarrhea, even to the extent of statistical significance, however the quantum of the benefit does not justify its routine use in acute diarrhea in children especially as it will involve the cost of extra prescription and because all the studies are form the same group of researchers. I would wait for some studies from other groups of researchers too. Lastly my worry is that in the process of prescribing a 'drug' for diarrhea, we may forget the importance of prescribing and using Oral Rahydration Salt as the most useful 'drug' as traditionally we depend on 'drugs' for cure and somehow we are not prescribing ORS as much as we should be. This applies to all, general practitioners, Pediatricians and the parents. So in nutshell, let us all use ORS first before thinking of a drug for acute diarrhea.

2) Cefpodoxime is more rational than Cefixime in RTI.

3) No the flu vaccine is NOT recommended for use universally for immunocompetent children in India. (In west they have different priorities and recommend it for all the children.) We have different priorities as we are still struggling for MMR, Hep. B, Hib and Vi typhoid vaccines to be used in children.