Rosale 1996.

Methods	Randomised controlled, double‐blind trial Allocation sequence generated by table of random numbers Unit of randomisation: individual participants Study duration was 7 months
Participants	Inclusion criteria: prodromal or effervescent measles, consent by parents, confirmation by a four‐fold increase in measles antibody titre at end of week 2 Exclusion: cases requiring hospitalisation, xerophthalmia, severe undernutrition, refusal to give consent by parents
Interventions	Vitamin A in oil given as a single dose of 210 μmol (200,000 IU) with vitamin E (42.4 microgram) versus placebo Co‐interventions: eye ointment, paracetamol, aspirin, tetracycline, intramuscular penicillin, oral rehydration fluids, gentian violet, cough mixture Follow‐up was for 4 weeks
Outcomes	Cough, pneumonia, serum retinol level, nutritional status Outcomes were measured 2 weeks and 42 days post‐intervention
Notes	Both nutritional status and eye examination were reportedly done at follow‐up visits. In a feedback communication, the author (Frasisco Rosale) indicated that "....undernutrition remained unchanged throughout the study period and did not differ significantly between the two groups" and that "......no cases of conjunctivitis was observed in both groups throughout the follow‐up period" Serum retinol levels were determined by high‐pressure, liquid chromatography
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Adequate: sequence was generated using a table of random numbers
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Adequate: codes were used on bottles
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Adequate: double‐masking of the dispenser bottles which were also number‐coded
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	High risk	Missing outcome data for different outcomes at different times. Differential loss to follow‐up between groups
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	High risk	Eye examination and conjunctival impression cytology done but we do not have access to information on cytology examination
Other bias	Low risk	None known

IU: international units