Adding Vitamin C to Standard Treatment to Help Children Under Five Recover Faster from Severe Pneumonia and Reduce Hospital Stay

What this Trial Is About

Severe pneumonia is a serious illness affecting young children and often leads to hospital admission. This clinical trial evaluates whether adding vitamin C to the standard treatment can shorten the hospital stay for children under five years old admitted with severe pneumonia. The study aims to find out if vitamin C helps children recover faster when combined with routine care compared to routine care alone. The study involves 90 children aged 2 to 59 months who have severe pneumonia, defined by symptoms like fast breathing, fever, cough, and danger signs such as difficulty feeding or bluish lips. After consent from parents, children will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive standard treatment, including oxygen therapy and intravenous antibiotics, while the other group will receive the same standard treatment plus a daily dose of 200 mg vitamin C mixed in milk or water. Researchers will monitor each childs recovery by tracking breathing rate, temperature, oxygen levels, and overall health until the physician decides they can be discharged. The main outcome measured is the number of days spent in the hospital from treatment start until discharge, up to 30 days. This study aims to determine if vitamin C is a helpful addition to standard care for severe pneumonia in young children, potentially improving treatment and reducing hospital time.

Effect of Vitamin C on Length of Hospital Stay in Children With Severe Pneumonia