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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Vitamin A levels and mortality among hospitalized measles patients, Kinshasa, Zaire
Authors:Markowitz, L.E.
Nzilambi, Nzila
Driskell, W.J.
Year:1989
Periodical:Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
Volume:35
Issue:3
Pages:109-112
Language:English
Geographic term:Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Subjects:child health
rubeola
External link:http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/35/3/109
Abstract:Treatment with high dose vitamin A has recently been recommended for children with measles in communities where vitamin A deficiency is a recognized problem. However, the relationship between vitamin A and measles mortality has not been clearly established. The authors studied serum vitamin A levels in 283 children under 5 years of age admitted to Mama Yemo and Kalembe Lembe Hospitals in Kinshasa, Zaire, between January and March 1987. Vitamin A levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The overall case fatality rate was 26 percent. On univariate analysis, age under 24 months, pneumonia on admission, lymphopenia, and lower vitamin A levels were associated with death during hospitalization. The findings suggest that the risk from low vitamin A levels may be age-dependent. Because vitamin A levels were not available from children prior to onset of measles, it was impossible to determine whether the low vitamin A levels were primary or secondary. Further studies are needed to determine whether or not low vitamin A levels predispose children to severe measles and the role of vitamin A supplements in the prevention of measles mortality. Ref.
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