VITAMIN A KEEPS MEASLES AWAY?

Should your patients take vitamin A for measles?

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1. Counselling Conundrum: a real question from a patient

2. Concise Conclusion: a straight-forward patient-friendly answer 

3. Quick Wrap-up 

Clearly, there are nuances that may not be captured in this format. The goal here is to provide you with helpful counselling tips which often draw from multiple sources or those which are not commonly accessed by busy healthcare providers serving the community.

Counselling Conundrum: "My friend gave their daughter vitamin A for their Measles. This is quackery right?"

Concise Conclusion: Actually, Vitamin A can be used once daily for two days (dose is based on age, and should be done under the care of a doctor) to decrease complications from Measles in children, but does not seem to help prevent it.

Quick Wrap-up: Don't forget to also mention supportive care, post-exposure prophylaxis, and the vaccine.

Dive Deeper

1) Health Canada. Measles vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-12-measles-vaccine.html#vsp (Accessed March 12, 2025).

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