Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
Periodical article | Leiden University 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. |