Vitamin C to shorten hospital stay for children with severe pneumonia
Efficacy of Vitamin C as an Adjunct to Standard Treatment in Severe Pneumonia in Children Under Five Years of Age: A Clinical Comparison
This trial will test whether giving vitamin C along with usual treatment helps children under five with severe pneumonia get better faster and leave the hospital sooner.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 4 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Ages | 2 Months to 59 Months |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Children's Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Multan Khurd, Punjab Province) |
| Trial ID | NCT07414693 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized Phase 4 trial enrolls 90 children aged 2–59 months admitted to a single pediatric hospital in Multan with WHO-defined severe pneumonia. After parental consent, participants are randomly assigned to receive standard antibiotic treatment with or without added vitamin C. Children with congenital heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, or immunosuppression are excluded. The primary outcome is length of hospital stay, with clinical recovery measured by resolution of danger signs and respiratory symptoms.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children aged 2–59 months admitted within 48 hours with signs of severe pneumonia and without chronic lung disease or immunosuppression are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Children with congenital heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses (like asthma, bronchiectasis, or cystic fibrosis), or weakened immune systems were excluded and are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding vitamin C could shorten hospital stays for young children with severe pneumonia and reduce treatment costs and hospital resource use.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies of vitamin C for respiratory infections and critical illness have shown mixed results, and evidence specifically in young children with severe pneumonia is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * presenting with severe pneumonia * ≤ 48-hours duration Exclusion Criteria: * Congenital heart disease * Children with chronic respiratory illnesses i.e. Asthma, post tuberculosis bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis * Immunosuppressed i.e. primary immune deficiency, malignancy, on steroid therapy
Where this trial is running
Multan Khurd, Punjab Province
- Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health — Multan Khurd, Punjab Province, Pakistan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Muhammad S Principal Investigator, MBBS
- Email: msulaman1432@gmail.com
- Phone: +92 302 2513701
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.