Comparison Of Oral Vitamin C Supplementation Versus Control For Management Of Bronchopneumonia In Children Presenting In Allied Hospital Faisalabad

Abstract

Background: Childhood pneumonia remains the major contributor of child mortality globally and bronchopneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality during childhood in resource poor settings like Pakistan. It has been proposed that vitamin C a strong antioxidant and immune potentiating supplement may be beneficial and a cheap adjuvant to standard antibiotics and that it can decrease the severity and length of hospital stay in patients with bronchopneumonia.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of oral Vitamin C supplementation in comparison with a control group in managing bronchopneumonia in children admitted at Allied Hospital Faisalabad in terms of mean hospital stay.

Study design: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Place and duration: Department of Paediatrics, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, from September 2024 to January 2025.

Methodology: Seventy-two children aged 2 months to 5 years with bronchopneumonia were included and randomized into two groups, each consisting of 36 patients. Group A received routine antibiotics along with oral Vitamin C while Group B received only routine antibiotics. Quantitative parameters i.e. Age, weight, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, duration of symptoms and duration of stay in the hospital were compared using mean and standard deviation. P value of 0.05 was considered significant. Both male and female patients between 2 months to 5 years age group admitted to ward with a clinical diagnosis of bronchopneumonia supported by findings on X-Ray and laboratory investigations was enrolled and patients with Asthma/ reactive airway disease, Congenital heart diseases, Immuno- deficiency syndromes, cystic fibrosis, Moderate to Severe malnourished children, patients with Sepsis/Diarrhea, active Measles Virus Infection, Patients with vitamin/micronutrient supplementation or treated elsewhere had been excluded.

Results: Mean age of participants was 29.89+16.74 months. There was statistically significant less hospital stay in the Vitamin C group as compared to control group (4.19+1.27 Vs 5.88+1.16 days, p<0.001).Male gender dominated the study with 59.7% and the radiological infiltrates were seen in 47.2% patients whereas crepitations were present in 50.0% patients. Fever resolution was statistically significant more rapid in Vitamin C group as compared to control group (1.8+0.7 Vs 2.9+1.1 days, p=0.002).

Conclusion: Oral Vitamin C supplementation may significantly reduce the duration of hospitalization among children admitted for bronchopneumonia and can be considered as an effective adjunct to the routine antibiotic therapy for pediatric pneumonia.