Why is it vitamin A 400iu given to children with measles?

Answer 1

Many of our required vitamins and minerals are need for the immune system. The examples include Vitamin C, D, E, Manganese and Vitamin A. As well as what the last post above described, taking vitamin supplements of the above has shown to improve the bodies ability to fight off an infection, not just the Measles.

The problem with Measles is that there is no specific treatment against the virus, so all we can do is try to boost the immune system and treat symptoms like fever and headache.

It is vitally important for everyone's sake that your children are vaccinated. The vaccination program is what is responsible for the rapid decline of measles, which can have deadly serious consequences including encephalitis, meningitis, pancreatitis and even death.

Answer 2

An interesting question. Most American docs practicing today have never seen a case of measles. In 1940 it was the eighth leading cause of death in children.

I believe the following statistics to be true. In the 1940' s and later, for every 200 children with measles, one child would die. In the 1989 epidemic in the poorer sections of New York, the death rate was one for every 100. It was alarming to find that while the incidence of measles was lower, the death rate was double.

Meanwhile, doctors working in third world countries where measles was still endemic noted that Vitamin A supplementation would improve outcome. This led to several studies in the US, including in New YouK City, where it was discovered that many small children with measles had low vitamin A levels, and these children were sicker and had poorer outcomes. Thus the recommendation for Vitamin A supplementation here in the States.