Plasma Ascorbic Acid Levels in Children with Measles

Abstract

Summary: Plasma concentration of ascorbic acid was determined in sixty-six children with haemorrhagic measles and a group of matched controls. The mean ascorbic acid level of 0.33 mg/dl + 0.16 among the children with measles was significantly lower than a mean of 1.00mg/dl + 0.19 among the controls(P<0.001). Although there was no direct relationship between the level of ascorbic acid and severity of measles infection, the level of ascorbic acid increased as the condition improved in the patients who were followed up. It is postulated that very low level of ascorbic acid in these children was due to the effect of measles infection, thus giving rise to some scurvy-like features. It is possible increased as the condition improved in the patients who are followed up. It is postulated that very low level of ascorbic acid in these children was due to the effect of measles infection, thus giving rise to some scurvy-like features. It is possible that ascorbic acid given in therapeutic doses to children with measles may hasten recovery and improve the poor prognosis of this disease in developing countries. There is a need for a controlled study to evaluate the effect of ascorbic acid in the treatment of measles.