Subclinical vitamin A deficiency in undersix children in Nagpur, India.
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Date
1998-06-14
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Abstract
The present cross sectional study was carried out to estimate prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency among undersix children by using conjunctival impression cytology in urban slums of Nagpur city in central India. The study population included 308 non-xerophthalmic undersix children selected randomly. Conjunctival impression cytology was performed by standard procedure. Out of 308 children 110 (35.7%) had subclinical vitamin A deficiency. Increasing prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency was non-significantly associated with advancing age. Higher prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency was observed in severely malnourished children. The prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency observed in this study (35.7%) is much more than the criteria laid down by WHO, which warrants community wide intervention. This problem assumes more significance because they are apparently healthy and if timely vitamin A supplementation is not given, any intercurrent infection is likely to worsen the vitamin A status and result in known consequences of xerophthalmia.
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The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health.
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Khandait DW, Vasudeo ND, Zodpey SP, Kumbhalkar DT, Koram MR. Subclinical vitamin A deficiency in undersix children in Nagpur, India. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 1998 Jun; 29(2): 289-92