Maternal Vitamin D for Acute Respiratory Infections in Infancy

In this study, an acute respiratory infection (URTI and/or LRTI) has been clinically defined as:

A) Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)

A new-onset illness consisting of at least two of the following clinical criteria at any time during a surveillance week:

• Caregiver-reported cough;
• Caregiver-reported rhinorrhea;
• Caregiver-reported nasal congestion; and,
• Measured axillary temperature greater than or equal to 37.5°C.

B) Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI)

• New onset clinically-diagnosed LRTI:

• Caregiver-reported cough AND/OR difficulty breathing during a surveillance week; AND,
• Observed lower chest wall indrawing AND/OR elevated respiratory rate (60 breaths per minute or greater for infant up to 59 days of age, or 50 breaths per minute or greater for infant 60 days of age or older)
• Hospitalized LRTI

• Hospitalization with physician diagnosis of pneumonia or bronchiolitis

Inclusion criteria

• Infants born to women enrolled in the MDIG trial (NCT01924013).
• Maternal inclusion criteria (at time of enrolment) will be:
• At least 18 years of age
• 17 to 24 completed weeks of gestation
• Intends to permanently reside in the trial catchment area for at least 18 months
• Family plans to reside in catchment area for the first 6 months postnatal
• Provides written informed consent for participation

Exclusion criteria

• Mother withdrawn from MDIG trial prior to delivery
• Failure to provide consent for participation in sub-study