KARACHI, April 3: Local parents have been strongly advised to ensure that their children are not suffering from Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD), that puts their life and sight at serious risk.

Dr Shahnawaz Munami, Community Ophthalmologist at Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital, said that Vitamin A is particularly important for the preservation of night vision among children. She maintained that small children denied of adequate breast-feeding and proper weaning are more likely to suffer from VAD.

“Mothers should be encouraged to breast-feed their babies for full two years,” he stressed, adding that weaning must also be started at four months, together with the use of Vitamin A-containing food, that may not necessarily be very expensive.

Pregnant, as well as lactating mothers were also advised to ensure proper consumption of food containing Vitamin A.

The ophthalmologist cited poverty, a large family, lack of sufficient and balanced food, besides measles and chronic diarrhoea among the major precipitating factors.

The deficiency was stated to manifest itself through repeated attacks of tract infections (cough), diarrhoea, fever and severe malnourishment.

Those inflicted with severe VAD are generally noticed to be inactive during darkness due to night blindness, the ophthalmologist said.

Under the said condition, the affected children are also said to develop a yellowish-white, foamy spot over the white area of the eyeball (Bitot’s Spot).

Dr Shahnawaz Munami also mentioned that application of surma (antimony powder) to the eyes of such children further stains the spot, gradually leading to the melting away of the cornea (anterior part of the eye), ultimately causing absolute loss of sight.

The ophthalmologist warned that children with the above-mentioned symptoms may also be at the brink of death, as not only their sight is at risk but they are also prone to serious diseases such as severe diarrhoea that causes severe malnourishment and enhances vulnerability to measles, as well as various forms of infections.

He said that Vitamin A is freely found in abundance in dark-green leafy vegetables, red palm oil, yellow fruits (mango, papaya), egg, milk and fish, and that their regular use gives a child enough Vitamin A.

Any child needing Vitamin A supplements can be brought to the Civil Hospital Eye Department where the same would be provided free of cost, Dr Shanawaz said.

According to him, for a child up to six months of age, one Vitamin A capsule containing 100,000 units is given on the first day, another on the second day and the third after a month.

For children older than six months, a double dose is given (200,000 units) on day one and two and after one month, he added. All pregnant and lactating mothers at risk are also suggested to take adequate doses of Vitamin A after consulting a doctor.

The ophthalmologist also strongly recommended that all children, without any distinction, must be vaccinated for measles by the age of nine months.—APP