Impact of massive dose of vitamin A given to preschool children with acute diarrhoea on subsequent respiratory and diarrhoeal morbidity.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of vitamin A supplementation on morbidity from acute respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea.


METHODS
Double blind randomised placebo controlled field trial.


METHODS
An urban slum area in New Delhi, India.


METHODS
900 children aged 12-60 months attending a local health facility for acute diarrhoea of less than seven days' duration randomly allocated to receive vitamin A 200,000 IU or placebo.


METHODS
Incidence and prevalence of acute lower respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea during the 90 days after termination of the enrolment diarrhoeal episode measured by twice weekly household surveillance.


RESULTS
The incidence (relative risk 1.07; 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.26) and average number of days spent with acute lower respiratory tract infections were similar in the vitamin A supplementation and placebo groups. Among children aged 23 months or less there was a significant reduction in the incidence of measles (relative risk 0.06; 95% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.48). The incidence of diarrhoea was also similar (relative risk 0.95; 0.86 to 1.05) in the two groups. There was a 36% reduction in the mean daily prevalence of diarrhoea associated with fever in the vitamin A supplemented children older than 23 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Results were consistent with a lack of impact on acute lower respiratory tract related mortality after vitamin A supplementation noted in other trials and a possible reduction in the severity of diarrhoea.
Bhandari
N
N
Department of Paediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Bhan
M K
MK
Sazawal
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014504:Urban Health; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014801:Vitamin A