Why is it important to pay attention to vitamin A supplements for children with measles?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was consulted professionally with BS. Nguyen Hai Ha - Head of Vaccine Unit - Pediatric Outpatient Department - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
Vitamin A deficiency in children with measles can cause problems with the cornea. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Health have recommended using high doses of vitamin A in the treatment of measles in children to help them recover quickly and avoid complications after the disease.

1. Measles in children

Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by measles virus of the family Paramyxoviridae with symptoms of fever, rash, runny nose, cough, red eyes... The disease can be seen in children and adults without immunity. disease prevention, can cause epidemics. Although measles is less fatal (mortality rate 0.02% in advanced countries, 0.3 - 0.7% in developing countries), complications can be encountered: otitis media, inflammation pneumonia, diarrhea, dry corneal ulcers and sometimes encephalitis after measles, especially in malnourished children.....

2. The role of vitamin A in children with measles

Vitamin A has a role in preserving the integrity of epithelial cells, in addition to playing a role in growth and immunity, which is essential for pediatric patients with measles. According to the recommendations of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), vitamin A is used in the treatment of measles in children, especially in localities where there is a shortage of vitamin A. vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency often occurs in inadequately nourished children. These patients often have very low liver vitamin A stores during measles infection, although the exact cause is unclear. This may be due to decreased levels of proteins (prealbumin and retinol-binding protein) needed to mobilize vitamin A from the liver. This decrease was observed in children with measles and other acute illnesses. The result leads to low serum netinol levels and reduced epithelial resurfacing. Low serum vitamin A levels are correlated with lower measles-specific antibody levels and increased morbidity. A similar investigation in South Africa showed an association between vitamin A and immune factors that reduce morbidity and mortality in measles patients.
Besides, in developing countries, vitamin A treatment for children with measles reduces the risk of other infections (acute diarrhea, respiratory infections) and the complications that lead to measles. to death.
Therefore, according to the measles treatment recommendations in Decision 1327/QD-BYT on "Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of measles" issued by the Ministry of Health on April 18, 2014, when detecting a child with If the child shows signs of measles, the child should immediately take vitamin A with the appropriate dose.

3. Dosage of vitamin A in the treatment of measles in children

Measles in children increases the body's need for vitamin A, leading to vitamin A deficiency. Even if the child is previously well nourished and adequately nourished with vitamin A, there is still a risk of complications related to the disease. related vitamin A deficiency, such as corneal ulcers, can even lead to blindness in children. According to the protocol issued by the Ministry of Health for the treatment of measles, the dose of vitamin A applied to measles is as follows:

In the case of pediatric measles with eye problems caused by vitamin A deficiency, including night blindness, Bitot's streak (a milky white streak on the cornea of ​​the eye) or dry eyes, Dosage should be repeated again after 4-6 weeks of treatment.

4. Notes on vitamin A supplementation for pediatric patients with measles

Measles affects the nutrition of children. Children with measles often feel anorexia, skip meals due to mouth ulcers, infections, leading to nutritional deficiencies. In addition, children have vomiting, diarrhea, loss of water and electrolytes, increased excretion and decreased absorption of many essential nutrients, including vitamin A. Therefore, parents need to be very careful in this treatment. the use of vitamin A supplements to treat measles in children:
Use food sources rich in vitamin A, combine in meals: animal liver, fat from meat, egg yolks are foods of animal origin. Contains a significant amount of vitamin A. In addition, it is recommended to combine with plant sources rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor), such as yellow/red fruits and vegetables and dark green vegetables, such as spinach, amaranth, vegetables. broccoli, spinach, water spinach, jute, palm oil, soybean oil and other vegetable oils. Vitamin A is fat-soluble. Therefore, the diet needs to use enough oil and fat to help the vitamin be dissolved and converted from the provitamin A form to the vitamin A form that the body can absorb. To support the best treatment for measles in children, it is recommended to supplement with a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, E, C, zinc, selenium..., of which the most important is vitamin A, C and zinc, which help promote immune system health. After the measles is over, the child's body is often weak and needs to be eaten more. Adequate nutrition should be provided for at least 2 weeks, so that the child can quickly recover and regain normal health.

5. Preventing measles in children

To prevent measles in children, parents need to give their children a full and timely measles vaccination (single dose measles vaccine can be started from 9 months of age, epidemic areas can be given earlier. from 6 months old). At the same time, give the child a high dose vitamin A supplement every 6 months for children 6 months to under 5 years old. In addition, the family should actively keep the house well-ventilated, pay attention to the baby's personal hygiene (especially ear, nose and throat hygiene), keep the baby's body warm, and provide proper nutrition to keep the baby's body warm. Increases resistance. For infants who are still breastfed, breastfeeding should be continued. If possible, the mother should breastfeed more often combined with reasonable nutritional supplements according to the doctor's opinion. For children, exclusive breastfeeding within the first 6 months is the best measure to facilitate optimal growth and development and prevent childhood measles.
To reduce the risk of measles becoming worse, parents should take their child to the doctor immediately if the child shows signs of suspected measles infection (fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, red skin rash sequentially. from head to toe...). And especially to best protect children, families should give children vaccines against measles, measles-mumps-rubella to protect children from infection and reduce the rate of complications if accidentally infected with measles virus. Vinmec hospital and clinic system is one of the facilities that provide vaccines against infectious diseases, including measles, measles-mumps-rubella vaccines that meet standards and are safe for health. healthy for customers. Customers will be consulted and built the most reasonable and effective vaccination schedule for children.

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