Impact of vitamin A supplementation on diarrhea and acute respiratory infection among children

ABSTRACT

Clinical manifested vitamin A deficiency predisposes to increased diarrhea and respiratory morbidity. To study impact of vitamin A supplementation on acute respiratory tract infection and diarrhea of children. A clinical trial study was carried out in Azazi village- Sharkia governorate, Egypt- through the year of 2009. Of 430 children aged 12-60 months attending the local health centre to get medical care for diarrhea. 300 children were included in this study. Those children with history of acute diarrhea of less than seven days' duration were divided into two groups. vitamin A group children [150] who received vitamin A 200000 IU and the other 150 [control group] were not given vitamin A. Incidence and prevalence of acute lower respiratory tract infections and diarrhea during the 90 days after termination of diarrheal episode were measured by twice weekly home visits. 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 supplemented and control groups. The incidence of diarrhea was also similar [relative risk 0.95; 95% confidence interval 0.86 to 1.05] in the two groups. There was a reduction in the mean daily prevalence of diarrhea associated with fever in the vitamin A supplemented children older than 23 months. Results showed a lack of impact of vitamin A supplementat ion on acute respiratory tract infection, but there was a reduction in the severity of diarrhea in older children. Parents are advised to give their Children vitamin A during the obligatory program of immunization and during diarrheal attacks because this may lower incidence and severity of diarrhea especially in older children