During a school health survey, a 9-year-old girl is found to have Bitot's spots in both eyes and night blindness. Her serum retinol level is 10 µg/dL. Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Vitamin A Deficiency, what is the recommended treatment dose for this child?
- A Vitamin A 1,00,000 IU orally immediately
- B Vitamin A 50,000 IU intramuscularly for 3 days
- C Vitamin A 2,00,000 IU orally immediately, same dose next day, and again after 4 weeks ✓
- D Vitamin A 1,00,000 IU orally on day 1 and day 2 only
Correct answer: C. Vitamin A 2,00,000 IU orally immediately, same dose next day, and again after 4 weeks
Explanation
For children above 1 year of age with clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency (including Bitot's spots), WHO and India's National Programme recommend 2,00,000 IU (200,000 IU) of vitamin A orally on Day 1, Day 2, and again after 4 weeks (three doses total). Children under 1 year receive 1,00,000 IU (100,000 IU) per dose. This high-dose therapy rapidly replenishes hepatic stores and reverses clinical deficiency.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.