Symptoms and prevention of vitamin A deficiency

Precious population: Preschoolers

Clinical manifestations of vitamin A deficiency:

Skin symptoms: Dry, desquamation, and rough skin, followed by papules, most often on the outer side of the upper arm and the extensor side of the lower limbs, shoulders, buttocks, back and back of the neck; due to keratosis of the respiratory epithelium, the trachea and bronchus are susceptible to infection, and children can also cause bronchial pneumonia

Eye performance: It is often manifested as a decrease in dark adaptability, that is, when people suddenly enter the dark from a bright environment, the time it takes for people's eyes to clearly see objects in the dark is prolonged. In severe cases, you cannot see objects clearly in dark light, becoming night blindness, commonly known as "finch eyes." People with severe vitamin A deficiency can also cause dry eye disease, which is manifested as dry conjunctival disease. Children may have conjunctival folds and conjunctival hyperplasia and thickening. Sometimes a triangular or circular or elliptical spot with the bottom edge inward is formed on the line parallel to the outside of the cornea of the eye and the eyeball. The color is gray white or silvery white, shaped like a small soap bubble that cannot be erased, and is called "Pitt's spot." The glossiness of the ocular conjunctiva and cornea decreases, and tear secretion is reduced or no tear is secreted. More serious ones can cause corneal ulcers, perforations, or even complete blindness.

Prevention of vitamin A deficiency:

Pay attention to eating more foods rich in vitamin A and/or yellow-green vegetables and fruits rich in carotene on weekdays, because carotene can be converted into vitamin A in the body, which can also prevent vitamin A deficiency; You can also choose appropriate foods fortified with vitamin A. (Editor in charge: Tian Tian)