DR. MERIN JOHNY

DR. DEEPAK MISHRA, DR. PRASHANT BHUSHAN, DR. MANISH KARN

Abstract

The purpose of prospective study was to find out the epidemiology of xerophthalmia in children in a tertiary care centre in North India.The study was conducted between 1st August 2019 to 31st May 2021.Children less than 6 years were selected from routine OPD.Diagnosis & classification of Xerophthalmia was done according to WHO classification.All the data recording demographics, socioeconomic status etc were recorded in a fixed proforma.Data was analysed by SPSS version 16.

200 cases were included in the study after satisfying inclusion & exclusion criteria.The prevalence of night blindness was estimated to be 2.81% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 2.51-3.42) among children between 2 and 6 years of age. Xerophthalmia prevalence was 4.38% (95% CI: 4.21- 4.71). Prevalence was more in girls than boys and higher in low socioeconomic status. Our study concluded Vit.A deficiency as a severe public health problem leading to corneal opacity and childhood blindness in many areas of North India.