Comparison 1. Vitamin A versus control.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mortality during hospitalisation	3	1446	Peto Odds Ratio (Peto, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.29 [0.63, 2.66]
2 Time with signs of pneumonia and treatment issues (continuous)	4		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 Time with fever	3	958	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.11 [‐5.66, 3.44]
2.2 Time with rapid respiratory rate, > 40 breaths/min/day	2	926	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.03 [‐0.32, 0.38]
2.3 Time with hypoxia, PO2 < 95% per day	2	926	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.07 [‐0.21, 0.34]
2.4 Length of hospitalisation (days)	2	779	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.08 [‐0.43, 0.59]
2.5 Time with positive findings on auscultation	2	278	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.54 [‐1.14, 0.05]
2.6 Time with cough	1	38	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.0 [‐3.51, ‐0.49]
2.7 Time with positive findings at x‐ray	1	39	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [‐1.10, 2.90]
3 Time with signs of pneumonia and treatment issues (dichotomous)	2		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 Short‐term effects: slight improvement	1	80	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.06 [0.01, 0.30]
3.2 Long‐term effects: no improvement (number of recurrences)	1	80	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.12 [0.03, 0.46]
3.3 Change of antibiotic required	1	472	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.65 [0.42, 1.01]
4 Adverse events	2		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 Vomiting	2	430	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.77 [0.45, 1.33]
4.2 Diarrhoea	1	405	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.57 [0.31, 1.05]
4.3 Bulging fontanelles	1	186	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	8.25 [0.44, 155.37]
4.4 Irritability	1	306	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.56, 1.57]
5 Time with fever, tachypnoea and hypoxaemia of pneumonia (serum retinol > 200 ug/L)	1	52	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐61.40 [‐119.10, ‐3.70]