title: Prevalence of low serum vitamin a levels in young children with chalazia in southwest china.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect risk factors that may be related to chalazia in children in southwest China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case group, 88 children with chalazia, was divided into 2 subgroups. One had 48 children 6 months to 6 years of age (defined as young children), and the other had 40 children 7 to 12 years of age (defined as older children). The control group consisted of 40 young children and 32 older children. Clinical findings for patients were recorded. Serum was tested for concentrations of vitamin A, vitamin D3, and immunoglobulin E.
  
  
  RESULTS
  World Health Organization definitions were used for vitamin A deficiency (< 0.7 μmol/L) and marginal vitamin A deficiency (0.7 to 1.05 μmol/L). The average level of serum vitamin A in the case group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < .001). Analyses failed to find significant differences in vitamin D3 or immunoglobulin E levels between the case and control groups. The average vitamin A level in young children with multiple chalazia (0.65 ± 0.12 μmol/L) was low. Blepharitis was less prevalent than low serum vitamin A levels in the young child subgroup (odds ratios, 8.5 and 96.9, respectively), but higher than in older children (odds ratios, 17.5 and 9.0, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low serum vitamin A is associated with a chalazion in young children in southwest China, especially young children with multiple chalazia.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Xinke
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Xiang
authors: Department of Medicine Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Yuqiang
authors: Y
authors: Zheng
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Lianhong
authors: L
authors: Pi
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Xiao
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Ke
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: JingF1974@126.com.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Fang
mesh_terms: D001762:Blepharitis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017043:Chalazion / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D007073:Immunoglobulin E