title: Vitamin A deficiency in Afghanistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate children 6 years old and younger, lactating mothers, and women of childbearing age for vitamin A deficiency in the districts of Kabul City, Afghanistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A set number of patients selected randomly in all 13 districts of the city limits were examined between August and September 2000 for ocular signs of vitamin A deficiency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Night blindness, Bitot's spot, corneal ulceration, and corneal scars were seen in increased amounts as defined by the World Health Organization among the sampled population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin A deficiency is a moderate to severe public health problem in children and lactating mothers in Kabul City, Afghanistan.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee--Chattanooga Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, 975 East Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA. lisamihora@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Mihora
authors.forename: Kalpana K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Jatla
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahim
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Enzenauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000453:epidemiology