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Prevalence of Xerophthalmia in Relation to Nutrition and General Health in Preschool‐age Children in Three Regions of Tanzania
Author(s) -
PEPPING F.,
KAVISHE F. P.,
HACKENITZ E. A.,
WEST C. E.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1988.tb10775.x
Subject(s) - xerophthalmia , medicine , tanzania , anthropometry , vitamin a deficiency , retinol , pediatrics , el niño , environmental health , measles , optometry , vitamin , vaccination , pathology , socioeconomics , sociology
. Integrated nutrition/health surveys were carried out in IVfbeya, Iringa and Kagera Regions in Tanzania in which a total of 12880 children were examined for the presence of xerophthalmia. Xerophthalmia was found to be a problem of public health significance in two of the three regions surveyed where the prevalence of active corneal xerophthalmic lesions was above the criteria set by WHO. Because of clustering of the children with Bitot's spots, corneal xerosis/ulceration and corneal scarring, only certain villages or groups of villages could be regarded as areas where xerophthalmia is a problem. The results of the ophthalmo‐logical examinations are discussed in relation to the nutritional status of the children as measured by anthropometric indices, serum levels of retinol‐binding protein and prealbumin, haematological parameters, and vaccination status.