SERUM VITAMIN A LEVELS IN CHILDREN DURING ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS AND LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION
Journal Title: Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences - Year 2016, Vol 5, Issue 69
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To know the sub-clinical deficiency of vitamin A in children during Acute Gastroenteritis and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections and to compare serum Vitamin A levels of control group with WHO standard. SUBJECTS 25 cases - 25 cases of gastroenteritis and lower respiratory tract infection and 25 controls aged between 6 months and 6 years. STUDY DESIGN Case control study. METHODS History with detailed diet history, clinical examination, evaluation of nutritional status and signs of vitamin A deficiency, blood samples for estimation of vitamin A levels and routine haematological indices (Hb, TC, DC, PS study) and serum electrolytes in some cases of GE cases, chest X-ray PA view taken in some of the lower respiratory tract infection, other relevant investigations done pertaining to individual case. INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA Children with gastroenteritis and lower respiratory tract infections as cases and children with minor ailments (not affecting vitamin A levels) coming to OPD as controls, age between 6 months to 6 years will be included in the study. Children admitted in the hospital for diseases other than lower respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis and children who are given vitamin A before admission will be excluded. RESULTS In this study vitamin A levels in 13 cases of GE and 12 cases of LRTI compared 25 controls. Incidence of GE constituted 25.6±8.2 and LRTI constituted 25.5±8.3 of all paediatric admissions. In the study group, 8% cases had reduced serum vitamin A levels and none in the control group. Serum vitamin A levels in infants were relatively low when compared with the older. There was also notable correlation between serum vitamin levels and dietary practices, nutritional status and socioeconomic status. There was significantly low levels of serum vitamin A in both gastroenteritis cases and lower respiratory tract infection cases compared with controls. For every one case of frank clinical deficiency of vitamin A, there was 6 subclinical cases. CONCLUSION Significant reduction in serum vitamin A levels in gastroenteritis cases and lower respiratory tract infection cases compared to controls. There was no significant number of cases with frank clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency, in spite of reduced levels of serum vitamin A. Therefore, the need for vitamin A supplementation in all gastroenteritis cases and lower respiratory tract infections.
Authors and Affiliations
Divyashree , Suresh
Keywords
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- EP ID EP128700
- DOI 10.14260/jemds/2016/1135
- Views 103
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