Vitamin A Deficiency: Its Epidemiology and Relation to Child Mortality and Morbidity

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most serious and widespread nutritional disorders of children in developing countries. Its ocular manifestations (xerophthalmia) range from mild and uncomplicated eye signs to blinding keratomalacia. However, vitamin A deficiency also appears to be a pervasive but preventable determinant of childhood morbidity and mortality, even at marginal levels of status where xerophthalmia is not evident. This chapter introduces common indicators of vitamin A status, outlines key epidemiological features of vitamin A deficiency, and addresses in detail the apparent effects of vitamin A deficiency (and repletion) on childhood morbidity and mortality.