Administer 200 000 IU once daily on D1, D2 and D8.Ĭorneal lesions are a medical emergency. If the cornea is affected, risk of blindness outweighs teratogenic risk.Do not exceed indicated doses (risk of foetal malformations). Hemeralopia or Bitot's spots: 10 000 IU once daily or 25 000 IU once weekly for at least 4 weeks.In pregnant women, treatment varies according to the stage of illness:.Vitamin A deficiency is rare in breastfed infants under 6 months.ĥ0 000 IU (2 drops) once daily on D1, D2 and D8ġ00 000 IU (4 drops) once daily on D1, D2 and D8Ģ00 000 IU (one capsule) once daily on D1, D2 and D8 Cut the end of the capsule and deliver the dose directly into the mouth.Ĭhildren < 6 months (b) Citation b. Treatment is the same regardless of the clinical stage, except in pregnant women.Ģ00 000 IU capsule (a) Citation a.Even if deficiency has already led to keratomalacia and irreversible loss of sight, it is imperative to administer treatment, in order to save the other eye and the life of the patient.

Vision can be saved provided that ulcerations affect less than a third of the cornea and the pupil is spared. Treat early symptoms to avoid the development of severe complications. Keratomalacia (the last and most severe sign of xerophthalmia): softening of the cornea, followed by perforation of the eyeball and blindness (extreme care must be taken during ophthalmic examination due to risk of rupturing cornea).Corneal xerosis: cornea appears dry and dull.Bitot’s spots: greyish foamy patches on the bulbar conjunctiva, usually in both eyes (specific sign, however not always present).Conjunctival xerosis: bulbar conjunctiva appears dry, dull, thick, wrinkled and insensitive.

The first sign is hemeralopia (crepuscular blindness): the child cannot see in dim light, may bump into objects and/or show decreased mobility.

In endemic areas, vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia affect mainly children (particularly those suffering from malnutrition or measles) and pregnant women.ĭisorders due to vitamin A deficiency can be prevented by the routine administration of retinol. Xerophthalmia can progress to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The term xerophthalmia covers all the ocular manifestations of vitamin A deficiency.

Download d2 50 000 iu