Community Nutrition

COMMUNITY NUTRITION 3 (1+2)

Lesson 9 : Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD)

Determination of public health significance of VAD

The WHO /IVACG (International vit A consultative group) recommended the following criteria to decide the public health significance of VAD in any area.

Prevalence rates of xerophthalmia and vitamin A deficiency defining Public health significance

Sign/symptoms/Biochemical indications	% prevalence
Night blindness(XN)	>1.0
Bitot’s spots	>0.5
Corneal xerosis	>0.01
Cornear scar related to xerophthalmia (XS)	>0.05
Serum retinol level less than 10µg/dl	>5.0