362
deficient in vitamin A at baseline, with serum retinol concentrations below 0-70 lunol/1. This proportion was slightly higher for the vitamin A group than for the placebo group. The two groups were similar for all but 2 of 68 demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, health, and nutritional variables at baseline. The mean daily prevalence of 19 of 21 symptoms and conditions asked about at the weekly visits did not differ between the vitamin A and placebo groups. The average daily prevalence of vomiting was, however, 13% lower in the vitamin A group (1-91% vs 2-19%, RR=087, p=002), and that of refusing food/breast was 15% lower (1 34% vs l-58%,RR=0-85,p=0-03). In addition, vitamin A supplementation seemed to have a pronounced positive effect on the severity of illness episodes. The rate of clinic attendances was 12% lower in the vitamin A group than in the placebo group (n = 2518, RR 0-88, p < 0-002), and the rate of hospital admissions was 38% lower (n 93, RR 0-62, p < 0-02). Furthermore, a lower of proportion episodes of diarrhoea among supplemented children was associated with a high stool frequency (6 + motions daily, RR = 092, not significant) or signs of dehydration (RR85, =
=
=
p
deficient in vitamin A at baseline, with serum retinol concentrations below 0-70 lunol/1. This proportion was slightly higher for the vitamin A group than for the placebo group. The two groups were similar for all but 2 of 68 demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, health, and nutritional variables at baseline. The mean daily prevalence of 19 of 21 symptoms and conditions asked about at the weekly visits did not differ between the vitamin A and placebo groups. The average daily prevalence of vomiting was, however, 13% lower in the vitamin A group (1-91% vs 2-19%, RR=087, p=002), and that of refusing food/breast was 15% lower (1 34% vs l-58%,RR=0-85,p=0-03). In addition, vitamin A supplementation seemed to have a pronounced positive effect on the severity of illness episodes. The rate of clinic attendances was 12% lower in the vitamin A group than in the placebo group (n = 2518, RR 0-88, p < 0-002), and the rate of hospital admissions was 38% lower (n 93, RR 0-62, p < 0-02). Furthermore, a lower of proportion episodes of diarrhoea among supplemented children was associated with a high stool frequency (6 + motions daily, RR = 092, not significant) or signs of dehydration (RR85, =
=
=
p
