Vitamin A and acute respiratory infections

Paediatr Indones. 1991 Jan-Feb;31(1-2):41-9.

Abstract

By questionnaire we studied the occurrence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in 1961 children between 0 and 5 years old from a total of 3225 families in Cikutra, Bandung. In 38.7% of them 200.000 IU vitamin A supplement had been given at least once during the preceding year. Mild or moderate ARI occurred in 54.7% of the children during the previous month and in 87.9% during the previous year; severe ARI occurred in 5.5% during the previous month and in 16.8% during the previous year. Surprisingly slightly more ARI occurred in children with vitamin A supplementation. However, vitamin A had been distributed more to low income than high income families, and in the latter group significantly less children suffered from ARI (p less than 0.05; 44% versus 54 a 56%).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indonesia / epidemiology
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / prevention & control*
  • Social Class
  • Vitamin A / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Vitamin A