Hypovitaminosis A
Updates to Article Attributes
Hypovitaminosis A results from inadequate intake of vitamin A, fat malabsorption, or liver disorders and produces a variety of epithelial alterations.
Epidemiology
The World Health Organization currently estimates that 45-122 countries have a vitamin A deficiency of public health significance based on the prevalence of night blindness and biochemical vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol concentration <0.70 µmol/l), respectively, in preschool-age children.
Night blindness is estimated to affect 5.2 million preschool-age children (33.3% globally) and 9.8 million pregnant women (15.3% globally). Regions of Africa and South-East Asia were found to be the most affected.
Clinical presentation
Manifestations include:
- dry and scaly skin
- increased intracranial pressure
- ocular effects
- xerophthalmia (dry eye) - common cause of blidnesss in young children in developing countries
- poor night vision
/ night/night blindness - photophobia
- decreased immunity
- squamous metaplasia
- renal tract stones from pelvic keratinisation
- in infancy
- susceptibility to infection
-
anemiaanaemia - cranial nerve injury
- growth retardation
Radiographic Features
- slow bone development
- widening of the cranial sutures with bulging fontanelles
Treatment and prognosis
Administration of vitamin A given orally or parenterally, if malabsorption is the cause of the deficiency.
See also
-<p><strong>Hypovitaminosis A</strong> results from inadequate intake of <a title="Vitamin A" href="/articles/vitamin-a-1">vitamin A</a>, fat malabsorption, or liver disorders and produces a variety of epithelial alterations. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>The World Health Organization currently estimates that 45-122 countries have a vitamin A deficiency of public health significance based on the prevalence of night blindness and biochemical vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol concentration <0.70 µmol/l), respectively, in preschool-age children.</p><p>Night blindness is estimated to affect 5.2 million preschool-age children (33.3% globally) and 9.8 million pregnant women (15.3% globally). Regions of Africa and South-East Asia were found to be the most affected.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Manifestations include:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Hypovitaminosis A</strong> results from inadequate intake of <a href="/articles/vitamin-a-1">vitamin A</a>, fat malabsorption, or liver disorders and produces a variety of epithelial alterations. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>The World Health Organization currently estimates that 45-122 countries have a vitamin A deficiency of public health significance based on the prevalence of night blindness and biochemical vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol concentration <0.70 µmol/l), respectively, in preschool-age children.</p><p>Night blindness is estimated to affect 5.2 million preschool-age children (33.3% globally) and 9.8 million pregnant women (15.3% globally). Regions of Africa and South-East Asia were found to be the most affected.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Manifestations include:</p><ul>
-<li>poor night vision / night blindness</li>- +<li>poor night vision/night blindness</li>
-<li>anemia</li>- +<li>anaemia</li>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.