Xerophthalmia in malnourished Sudanese children.
Two hundred and thirteen Sudanese children (4-60 months old) with malnutrition were examined for signs of xerophthalmia. Sixty-three (29%) of these children were found to have varying stages of xerophthalmia. These included 35 (56%) patients with conjunctival xerosis, 12 (19%) with Bitot's spots, seven (11%) with corneal xerosis, seven (11%) with corneal ulceration and two (3%) with corneal scar. Direct questioning of the parents of these children revealed evidence of night blindness in nine (4%) of all patients. All nine patients had signs of xerophthalmia which showed good response to vitamin A therapy.
Hussain
M A
MA
Department of Paediatrics, Khartoum Teaching Hospital, Sudan.
Ahmed
S M
SM
el Sheikh
E H
EH
D000284:Administration, Oral; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000150:complications*; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
D014801:Vitamin A