Measles
The efficacy of oral vitamin A supplementation for measles and respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV) infection
Kawasaki Y; Hosoya M; Katayose M; Suzuki H
Kansenshogaku Zasshi 1999 Feb;73(2):104-9 Recently, the efficacy
of oral vitamin A supplementation for measles and respiratory syncytial
(RSV) infection has been evaluated in developing countries. However, in
developed countries where vitamin A deficiency is little worth consideration,
few studies have been conducted on the effect of vitamin A supplementation.
The effect of oral vitamin A (100,000 IU) supplementation was evaluated
in 105 children with measles (age 5 months to 4 years) and in 96 children
with RSV infection (ages a month to 2.5 years) in Fukushima, Japan. Comparisons
were made of clinical signs, duration of hospitalization and complications
between treated groups and non-treated groups. Treated group (measles
n = 47, RSV n = 54) and non-treated groups (measles n = 58, RSV n = 42)
had similar baseline characteristics. Patients with measles given a vitamin
A supplementation had a shorter duration of cough (7.2 +/- 1.6 vs 9.2
+/- 1.8 days, p < 0.05) and patients with severe RSV infection given
a vitamin A supplementation had a shorter duration of retraction (3.6
+/- 1.4 vs 5.3 +/- 0.8 days, p < 0.05) and wheezing (4.4 +/- 1.7 vs
6.3 +/- 1.5 days, p < 0.05). Toxicities, including excess vomiting
and bulging fontanel were not observed. Our findings may suggest
the efficacy of oral vitamin A supplementation for measles and severe
RSV infection, in children who have no malnutrition.
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