Clinical failure rates in the first 48 hours for the Dhaka hospital for shigellosis, cholera and pneumonia were 31%, 35% and 40% respectively. Thus we postulate that the clinical failure from diarrhoea and pneumonia will be reduced at least by 15% from the current rate, if vitamin A can be supplemented at lower daily dose to malnourished children attending the Dhaka Hospital of ICDDR, B