Khan Mohammad Aman, Khan Mohammad Daud
Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.
J Pak Med Assoc. 2005 Feb;55(2):77-8.
To share our experience of 154 cases of clinical vitamin A deficiency in Pakistani children.
The data on age, sex, date of presentation and clinical stage of vitamin A deficiency was recorded. A total of 154 children aged 0-15 years suffering from clinical vitamin A deficiency (xerophthalmia) were recorded. One hundred and twenty three (79.9%) children were 0-6 years with 99 (64.3%) male children. Blinding xerophthalmia (corneal xerosis, corneal ulcers ad keratomalacia) was present in 94 (61%) children. Thirty nine percent children presented in summer, 28% in autumn, 20% in winter and 13% in spring respectively.
This report indicates that clinical cases of vitamin A deficiency in children do occur in Pakistan. Children under 6 years of age are the most vulnerable age group and there is a seasonal variation in presentation. Both life and sight of these children are at risk. Community based studies may be helpful to identify the magnitude of the problem and possible risk factors at national, provincial and district levels.
分享我们在巴基斯坦儿童中154例临床维生素A缺乏病例的经验。
记录了维生素A缺乏的年龄、性别、就诊日期及临床分期数据。共记录了154例0至15岁患有临床维生素A缺乏（干眼病）的儿童。其中123例（79.9%）儿童年龄在0至6岁，男性儿童99例（64.3%）。94例（61%）儿童出现致盲性干眼病（角膜干燥、角膜溃疡及角膜软化症）。分别有39%的儿童在夏季就诊，28%在秋季，20%在冬季，13%在春季。
本报告表明巴基斯坦确实存在儿童维生素A缺乏的临床病例。6岁以下儿童是最脆弱的年龄组，且就诊存在季节性差异。这些儿童的生命和视力均面临风险。基于社区的研究可能有助于确定国家、省和地区层面该问题的严重程度及可能的风险因素。
