Vitamin A deficiency
Vitamin A is needed for healthy eyes, skin and protection against infections. Deficiency mostly affects young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women in poor or food-insecure families. It causes night blindness and dry eyes, and can lead to permanent blindness. It also makes measles and diarrhoea more severe and more often deadly. It is prevented by breastfeeding, vitamin A-rich foods and vitamin A capsules given to children.
Symptoms
- Night blindness: difficulty seeing in dim light or at dusk
- Dry, rough eyes that may look wrinkled
- Foamy white or grey spots on the white of the eye
- Cloudy or soft cornea in severe cases, which can cause blindness
- Dry, rough skin
- Frequent infections such as diarrhoea and chest infections
Causes
- Diet low in vitamin A, such as mainly bread, rice and tea
- Stopping breastfeeding early
- Repeated diarrhoea, measles and intestinal worms
- Malnutrition
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding increase the body's need
Prevention
- Breastfeed only for the first 6 months, then continue breastfeeding with other foods
- Give children vitamin A capsules every 6 months from 6 months to 5 years, as in national campaigns
- Eat vitamin A-rich foods: carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, dark green leaves, apricots, mango, eggs, milk, butter and liver
- Vaccinate children against measles
- Treat diarrhoea and deworm children as advised
Treatment
- High-dose vitamin A given by a health worker on a set schedule for children with eye signs, measles or severe malnutrition
- Treatment of the eye under medical care to prevent blindness
- Treatment of diarrhoea, infections and malnutrition
- A diet rich in vitamin A afterwards
- Pregnant women must not take high-dose vitamin A, as it can harm the baby; only take what a doctor advises
Common questions
Why do children with measles need vitamin A?
Measles uses up the body's vitamin A quickly. Giving vitamin A to children with measles lowers the risk of blindness, severe complications and death.
Which local foods are good sources of vitamin A?
Carrots, pumpkin, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, apricots (fresh or dried), eggs, milk, butter and liver are all good sources.