Blood serum vitamin a levels in African children with dermatoses; clinical features and treatment

235 African children aged 6 months to 7 years with some dermatoses were investigated. Reduced blood serum vitamin A concentrations were found in all patients with pyoderma (11.7 ± 4.0 mkg%), dermatitis and eczema (10.2 ± 2.8 mkg%) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (9.5 ± 2.6 mkg%). The best results of therapy for these dermatoses were obtained with retinol palmitate in multiple modality treatment. This effects was accompanied with normalization of vitamin A levels in blood serum (24.7 ± 4.1 mkg%) and decline of skin disorders.