Current scenario of ocular morbidity in severe acute childhood malnutrition in central part of India

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the prevalence of ocular involvement in children 6 months to 5 years attending tertiary care centre with Severe Acute Malnutrition and to detect the associated risk factors for ocular morbidity in severe acute malnutrition.: This hospital based observational study was carried out at Gandhi Medical College, during the study period of 2 years on children diagnosed with SAM belonging to 6 months to 5 years of age. Detailed history was obtained and physical, systemic and ocular examination was done. : A total of 100 severe acute malnourished children were included. Prevalence of ocular involvement in severe acute malnourished children was 72%. Conjunctival pallor was observed in 71.5% eyes and retinal hemorrhages were most common posterior segment finding. Vitamin A deficiency signs were observed in 17 eyes (8.5%). Higher birth order and number of sibling was significantly associated with higher incidence of ocular manifestations (p<0.05). However, other variables showed no significant association between other variables and ocular manifestations (p>0.05). Training should be given to health workers at the primary health care level and health centers on counseling mothers on feeding, growth monitoring, the preventable eye blinding diseases and hygiene during the vaccination sessions and early referral of children with eye signs to hospitals. Also education of couple regarding proper nutrition of mother and child should be encouraged and couples should be insisted to have not more than two children.