Chouhan B S
Trop Geogr Med. 1977 Sep;29(3):279-82.
Staining of the eyes with carbon black ("kajal") was tried out in 500 children, age 1--15 years, partly urban and partly rural, in Jaisalmer District. Of the eyes of 280 rural boys 21.4% took the stain, of 50 girls 16.0%. In the urban groups the figures were 5.7% of 88 and 9.7% of 82, respectively. These figures conincided nearly wholly with the cases diagnosed X1A (conjunctival xerosis) or X1B (conjunctival xerosis with Bitot's spots) clinically. All Bitot's spots were stained black; in addition also 2.6% of cases diagnosed X1A. Eight cases presenting only nightblindness also stained. Since kajal application is harmless, cheap, and acceptable to Indian custom it is proposed as a diagnostic procedure suitable for the general duty doctor and paramedical staff in the field.
在斋沙默尔地区，对500名年龄在1至15岁、部分来自城市部分来自农村的儿童进行了用炭黑（“kajal”）染色眼睛的试验。在280名农村男孩中，21.4%的眼睛染上了污渍，50名女孩中这一比例为16.0%。在城市组中，88名儿童的这一比例为5.7%，82名儿童的这一比例为9.7%。这些数字几乎完全与临床诊断为X1A（结膜干燥症）或X1B（伴有毕脱斑的结膜干燥症）的病例相符。所有毕脱斑都被染成了黑色；此外，诊断为X1A的病例中还有2.6%也被染色。8例仅表现为夜盲症的病例也被染色。由于涂抹kajal无害、便宜且符合印度习俗，因此建议将其作为一种适合基层医生和现场辅助医疗人员的诊断方法。
