VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY (VAD)

DEFINITION: vitamin A is a substance that is required by the human body. Vitamin A:

* Strengthens resistance to infection;

* Increases a child’s chances of surviving an infections;

* Promotes growth; and

* Protects the transparent part of the eye called the cornea. If a person does not have enough vitamin A in his or her body, the person may have difficulty seeing in dim light.

The body cannot make vitamin A, so all of the vitamin A we need must come from the food we eat. Vitamin A is present in the following foods:

* Breast milk;

* Liver, cheese and other dairy products;

* Yellow and orange fruits, e.g. mangoes and papayas;

* Yellow and orange vegetables, e.g. pumpkins and carrots;

* Dark green, leafy vegetables;

* Red palm oil.

Vitamin A can be added to foods such as sugar, vegetable oil, and wheat flour during processing. This is called food fortification.

What is vitamin A deficiency (VAD)?

Vitamin A deficiency occurs when a person does not eat enough food containing vitamin A or when it is used up too fast by the body. This is often happens during an illness, during pregnancy and lactation, and when children’s growth is most rapid, i.e. from age six months to five years.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) reduces resistance to infections, leading to more severe and prolonged illnesses and therefore increasing the risk of death. It can cause eye damage such as corneal lesions, and when severe can cause blindness. Generally, the first clinical sign of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness (impaired vision in dim light). However, because vitamin A deficiency reduces the body’s resistance to infection, it is a threat even before any direct signs become apparent. Vitamin A deficiency can also cause anaemia. Vitamin A deficiency has been shown to increase a woman’s risk of dying during pregnancy and the first three months after delivery.

Children suffering from vitamin A deficiency are more likely to get infections such as measles, diarrhea and fevers; and their infections are more likely to be severe, sometimes resulting in death.

WHAT IS VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION

When diets do not contain food with enough vitamin A, it is possible to increase vitamin A levels in the body by periodically taking a concentrated dose or supplement in the form of a capsule. This is called supplementation. When given to children, vitamin A capsules are cut open and the drops of liquid inside are squeezed into the mouth.

Vitamin supplementation can be combined with immunization services for children and women when health officials know or suspect that vitamin A deficiency is present in an area or among a certain population.

In addition, vitamin A supplementations are also given for treatment of measles and eye damage (xerophthalmia).

IS THERE ANY CONTRAINDICATION TO VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTS?

There are no contraindications to vitamin A supplements for children and post-partum women if they are given according to the schedules. Vitamin A may be given at the sometimes as immunization.

IS THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS TO VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTS?

Usually, there are no side effects. However, on rare occasions a child may experience headache, loss of appetite or vomiting. The symptoms will pass by themselves, and no treatment is necessary. Parents should be advised that this is normal.

Others include:​

1- Cholera.

2- Cerebro spinal meningitis.

3- Typhoid fever.