
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 19, 1990                   TAG: 9007190577
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BOSTON                                LENGTH: Short

VITAMIN A TREATMENT URGED FOR MEASLES

All children with severe measles should take vitamin A supplements to sharply reduce the risk of complications and death, a study published today concludes.

Measles kills about 2 million children worldwide each year and leaves many more blind or afflicted with lung disease.

The research conducted in South Africa found that the vitamin reduced the death rate by more than half and the duration of pneumonia, diarrhea and hospitalization by about one-third.

The study published in today's New England Journal of Medicine was conducted by Drs. Gregory Hussey and Max Klein of the University of Cape Town.

- Associated Press

by CNB