Duration Of Respiratory Illness Research Articles

Effect of Vitamin C Supplements on Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Respiratory tract infections are a primary cause of illness and mortality over the world. This study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of vitamin C supplementation in preventing and treating respiratory tract infections. We used the Cochrane, PubMed, and MEDLINE Ovid databases to conduct our search. The inclusion criteria were placebo-controlled trials. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to measure the pooled effects of vitamin C supplementation on the incidence, severity, and duration of respiratory illness. We found ten studies that met our inclusion criteria out of a total of 2758. The pooled risk ratio (RR) of developing respiratory illness when taking vitamin C regularly across the study period was 0.94 (with a 95% confidence interval of 0.87 to 1.01) which found that supplementing with vitamin C lowers the occurrence of illness. This effect, however, was statistically insignificant (P= 0.09). This study showed that vitamin C supplementation had no consistent effect on the severity of respiratory illness (SMD 0.14, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.30: I2 = 22%, P=0.09). However, our study revealed that vitamin C group had a considerably shorter duration of respiratory infection (SMD -0.36, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.09, P = 0.01). Benefits of normal vitamin C supplementation for reducing the duration of respiratory tract illness were supported by our meta-analysis findings. Since few trials have examined the effects of therapeutic supplementation, further research is needed in this area.

Effect of Vitamin C Supplements on Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Respiratory tract infections are a primary cause of illness and mortality over the world. We aimed to gather evidence on the effectiveness of vitamin C supplementation in preventing and treating the respiratory tract infections among adults and children. Methods: To investigate the effectiveness of vitamin C supplementation on respiratory tract infections, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies. We used the Cochrane, PubMed, and MEDLINE Ovid database to conduct our search. Data was extracted independently by three review authors. The inclusion criteria were placebo-controlled trials that examined the effectiveness of vitamin C supplementation in preventing and treating the respiratory illness. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to measure the pooled effects of vitamin C supplementation on the incidence, severity, and duration of respiratory illness. Findings: We found ten studies that met our inclusion criteria out of a total of 2758.The pooled risk ratio (RR) of developing respiratory illness whilst taking vitamin C regularly across the study period was 0⸳94 (with a 95% confidence interval of 0⸳87 to 1⸳01) which found that supplementing with vitamin C lowers the occurrence of illness. This effect, however, was statistically insignificant (P= 0⸳09). This study showed that vitamin C supplementation had no consistent effect on the severity of respiratory illness (SMD 0⸳14, 95% CI -0⸳02 to 0⸳30: I2 = 22%, P=0⸳09). However, our study revealed that vitamin-C group had a considerably shorter duration of respiratory infection (SMD -0⸳36, 95% CI -0⸳62 to -0⸳09, P = 0⸳01). Interpretation: The benefits of normal vitamin C supplementation for reducing the duration of respiratory tract illness were supported by our meta-analysis findings. Since few trials have examined the effects of therapeutic supplementation, further therapeutic trials are required to examine the role of vitamin C in the treatment of respiratory infection especially COVID-19 infection. Funding Information: None.Declaration of Interests: We declare no competing interests.

Tobacco expenditures and child health and nutritional outcomes in rural Bangladesh

This study examined the relationship between tobacco prices and child health outcomes so as to assess the potential of improved child health outcomes resulting from less tobacco expenditure. In part, this paper was motivated by a study by. Efroymson et al. [(2001). Hungry for tobacco: An analysis of the economic impact of tobacco consumption on the poor in Bangladesh. Tobacco Control, 10, 212–217] suggesting that for the poorest households in Bangladesh, amongst whom malnutrition is widespread, shifting tobacco expenditures to expenditures on food would significantly improve the nutritional status of the household. We used data from a survey of 956 households conducted in rural Bangladesh between June 1996 and September 1997. The households were surveyed four times at approximately 4-month intervals during the 16-month period. We restricted our sample to households with children aged 2–10, and 600 households satisfied this criterion. The primary dependent variables for this study are three anthropometric indicators of child health and nutritional status: a standardized measure of height for age, a standardized measure of weight for height, and a standardized measure of weight for age. We also used measures of self-reported morbidity, including the incidence and duration of respiratory illness. We used regression methods on data averaged across survey rounds to estimate the relationship between tobacco prices and the outcome variables. Tobacco prices were found to be a significant determinant of height for age and weight for height for both boys and girls. Furthermore, the price of tobacco products is a significant predictor of weight for age for girls and the pooled sample. Our results suggest that higher tobacco prices would, for the most part, improve child health.

Influence of Training Loads on Patterns of Illness in Elite Distance Runners

To investigate relationships between training mileage and intensity, and the type, incidence, severity, and duration of respiratory illness in distance runners, and the impact of illness on submaximal and maximal running performance. A longitudinal observational study of distance runners with serial monitoring of training loads and clinical patterns of illness. A 4-month winter training period in the Southern Hemisphere. A total of 20 highly trained (elite) male middle-distance and distance runners competing at the national and international levels. Training was quantified by mileage (km), intensity (scale, 1-5), and load (volume x intensity). Symptoms and signs of respiratory illness (type, duration, and severity) were verified by a physician at a weekly review. Performance was monitored by measuring submaximal and maximal oxygen uptake and time to exhaustion on a incremental treadmill test. A majority of subjects (15/20) experienced 1 or more episodes of respiratory illness (mean, 2.5 episodes; range, 1-5), with 79% of symptoms classified as upper respiratory in origin. There were no significant differences in mean weekly mileage (P = 0.43), training intensity (P = 0.85), or training load (P = 0.45) between healthy runners and those affected by illness. Mean weekly (88 +/- 46 km) and mean monthly (373 +/- 163 km) mileages prior to each episode of illness were similar to the overall study means (95.5 +/- 36.4 km and 382 +/- 146 km). There were no substantial relationships between mean weekly training mileage, intensity, or training load and the number of illnesses reported (all r < 0.20). Neither submaximal nor maximal running performance was significantly affected by the presence of illness. Differences in training mileage, intensity, and load were not associated with the incidence of respiratory illness in highly trained middle-distance and distance runners. Runners with mild illness can be reassured that symptoms will not necessarily impair submaximal and maximal performance.

Effect of a Probiotic Infant Formula on Infections in Child Care Centers: Comparison of Two Probiotic Agents

To investigate the effect of 2 different species of probiotics in preventing infections in infants attending child care centers. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial was conducted from December 1, 2000, to September 30, 2002, at 14 child care centers in the Beer-Sheva area of Israel in healthy term infants 4 to 10 months old. Infants were assigned randomly to formula supplemented with Bifidobacterium lactis (BB-12), Lactobacillus reuteri (American Type Culture Collection 55730), or no probiotics. Duration of feeding, including follow-up, for each participant was 12 weeks. All infants were fed only the assigned formula and were not breastfed due to parental decision before recruitment to the study. Probiotic or prebiotic food products or supplements were not allowed. Main outcome measures were number of days and number of episodes with fever (>38 degrees C) and number of days and number of episodes with diarrhea or respiratory illness. Participants (n = 201) were similar regarding gestational age, birth weight, gender, and previous breastfeeding. The controls (n = 60), compared with those fed B lactis (n = 73) or L reuteri (n = 68), had significantly more febrile episodes (mean [95% confidence interval]: 0.41 [0.28-0.54] vs 0.27 [0.17-0.37] vs 0.11 [0.04-0.18], respectively). The controls also had more diarrhea episodes (0.31 [0.22-0.40] vs 0.13 [0.05-0.21] vs 0.02 [0.01-0.05], respectively) and episodes of longer duration (0.59 [0.34-0.84] vs 0.37 [0.08-0.66] vs 0.15 [0.12-0.18] days, respectively). The L reuteri group, compared with BB-12 or controls, had a significant decrease of number of days with fever, clinic visits, child care absences, and antibiotic prescriptions. Rate and duration of respiratory illnesses did not differ significantly between groups. Child care infants fed a formula supplemented with L reuteri or B lactis had fewer and shorter episodes of diarrhea, with no effect on respiratory illnesses. These effects were more prominent with L reuteri, which was also the only supplement to improve additional morbidity parameters.

Building illness in the white-collar workplace.

An increasing incidence of "building illness" is being noted among white-collar workers due to the high pollutant content of air in modern energy-efficient office buildings. These buildings are hermetically sealed, mechanically ventilated, and contain many materials that give off a variety of toxic fumes and aerosols. Severe outbreaks of illness have also been traced to ventilation problems in sealed hospital buildings. Similarly, tightly sealed and well insulated private homes present many sources of toxic pollutants to homemakers. Recent studies linking increases in the frequency and duration of respiratory illnesses with increasing pollution levels warn us that increases in indoor pollution levels should be avoided in the white-collar workplace, hospital, and private residence. Unfortunately, the cost of adequate ventilation of modern air-tight buildings is high. However, proper planning must be conducted to foresee and correct the impact of energy management policies on the livability and healthfulness of the indoor environment.