The effect of vitamin A supplementation on morbidity due to Plasmodium falciparum
Abstract
Objective To investigate the effect of vitamin A supplementationon malaria morbidity.
Methods The study was a randomized double-blind placebo-con-
trolled trial, conducted in Panyabungan, Mandailing Natal, North
Sumatera from April 2001 to April 2002. Children aged 6-60 months
suffering from falciparum malaria were randomly assigned to high
dose vitamin A or placebo every 4 months for a year. All children
were treated in accordance with health center policy. Malaria mor-
bidity was assessed from health center visit due to fever, diarrhea,
cough, or abdominal pain. Parents gave reports if their child re-
ceived malaria treatment from other health centers.
Results The number of febrile episodes (probable malaria illness)
was lower in the treatment group than that of control, but not sig-
nificant. The parasitemia was not different between both groups.
There was a significant difference in spleen enlargement between
the treatment group and control (p=0.04). There was no difference
in health center visit between the two groups.
Conclusion The findings suggest that vitamin A supplementation
has only effect on spleen enlargement in malaria.
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Accepted 2016-09-30
Published 2016-10-10