Deficiency of vitamin A in children

Vitamin A deficiency causes visual impairment in many parts of the developing world and is the leading cause of acquired blindness in children.

Mild degree of vitamin A deficiency may increase children's risk of developing respiratory and diarrheal infections, decrease their growth rate, slow bone development, and decrease their likelihood of survival from serious illness.

Several reports suggest that all else being equal, xerophthalmia can increase the risk of mortality among malnourished, hospitalized children.

Severe vitamin A deficiency is the major cause of childhood blindness in the world, causing more than half of a million preschool children to lose their sight each year.

Children living in the United States who are considered to be at increased risk for subclinical vitamin A deficiency include:
*toddlers and preschool age children
*children living at or below the poverty level
*children with inadequate health care or immunizations
*children living in areas with known nutritional deficiencies
*recent immigrants or refugees from developing countries with high incidence of vitamin A deficiency or measles, and
*children with diseases of the pancreas, liver, intestines, or with inadequate fat digestion/absorption.

To solve the root cause of vitamin A deficiency, more vitamin A must be present in the diets of vulnerable people.

The basis for lifelong health begins in childhood. Vitamin A is a crucial component. Since breast milk is a natural source of vitamin A, prompting breastfeeding is the best way to protect babies from vitamin A deficiency.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vitamins A supplementation for certain of measles infected infants and children.

Program planners and development leaders in health, agriculture, education and other sectors must understand the culture and ecology of food availability and consumption at the local level.
Deficiency of vitamin A in children