Vitamin A for Measles: How Effective Is It?

Vitamin A is essential for the proper functioning of the immune system and the healthy growth and development of a child, usually by obtaining it through healthy food.

Vitamin A for Measles

Several recent studies have shown that vitamin A treatment in children with measles in developing countries is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality.

The cause of measles is generally due to the virus and possible complications including pneumonia. Measles is the leading cause of death in children in low-income countries and is particularly dangerous in children with vitamin A deficiency.

Eight studies involving 2,574 participants showed results that there was no significant reduction in mortality in children receiving vitamin A.

The researchers concluded that vitamin A megadoses appeared effective in reducing measles deaths in children under two years of age and had few associated side effects.

There is not enough evidence to draw conclusions regarding its effectiveness in preventing pneumonia or other complications in children. However, the quality of evidence is generally moderate. A randomized trial with better quality perli to evaluate the efficacy of Vitamin A for treating measles in children.

Vitamin A for Measles: WHO Recommendations

On the other hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) issued a joint statement recommending that vitamin A be given to all children suffering from measles in communities where there is a deficiency of this type of vitamin.

As we know that vitamin A deficiency is the main cause of childhood blindness that we can prevent since this type of disease increases the risk of death from common infections in childhood, such as measles and those that cause diarrhea.

In 2013, the World Health Organization classified vitamin A deficiency as a public health problem, as it affects about one in three children aged 6 to 59 months, with the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia at 1.2.

Giving vitamin A supplements every four to six months is a cheap, fast, and effective way to improve vitamin A status and reduce children's pain and mortality in the long term.

Vitamin A Dosage for Measles

In areas where vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem, vitamin A supplementation is routinely recommended in infants and children aged 6-59 months as a public health intervention and has been shown to reduce the risk of all-cause death by 12 -24%.

Comprehensive control of vitamin A deficiency should also include strategies for dietary improvement and food fortification. The recommended regimen per day is 100,000 IU by mouth at the time of diagnosis for infants under the age of 12 months, and 200,000 IU for older children.