VITAMIN A
Vitamin A supplementation
- 6 – 11 months —> 1lakh IU (oral)
- 12 – 59 months —> 2lakh IU(oral)
Total of 17lakh IU given
- 1lakh IU at 9 months with measles
- 2lakh IU at 15 – 18 months with DPT booster (1 dose)
- 2lakh IU every 6 months till 5 years (7 doses)
WHO grading of Vit A deficiency
XN – Night blindness
X1A – Conjunctival xerosis
X1B – Bitot’s spots
X2 – Corneal xerosis
X3A – Corneal ulceration/Keratomalacia affecting < 1/3rd of corneal surface
X3B – Corneal ulceration/ keratomalacia affecting >1/3rd of corneal surface
XS – Corneal scar
XF – Xerophthalmic fundus
Treatment of Vit A deficiency
- <6 months – 50,000IU
- 6 – 12 months – 1 lakh IU
- >1 year – 2 lakh IU
Important
🔸Xerophthalmia – Ocular manifestations of Vit A deficiency
🔸First symptom of xerophthalmia – Nyctalopia (Night blindness)
🔸First sign of xerophthalmia – Conjunctival xerosis
🔸Pathognomonic feature of xerophthalmia – Bitot’s spots
good 👍