Dose of vitamin-A at 9 months?

Concept:

• Vitamin A is an over-the-counter vitamin that is naturally present in many foods.
• Vitamin A is important for normal vision, the immune system & reproduction.
• Vitamin A also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys and other organs work properly. 'There are two different types of Vitamin A, first preformed Vitamin A, is found in meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products.
• The second, Provitamin A, is found in fruits, vegetables & other plant-based products, most common type of provitamin is Beta-carotene.
• Vitamin A is available under the following different brand names: Retinol, Aquasol & Retinyl Palmitate.

Explanation:

• Vitamin A Supplementation Schedule  for Indian Children:
• Vitamin A ( 1st dose) at 9 completed months with measles- Rubella: 1 ml ( 1 lakh IU)  administered orally.
• Vitamin A ( 2nd dose) 16 to 18 months. Then one dose every 6 months up to the age of 5 years: 2ml ( 2lakh IU) is administered orally.

Additional Information

• The function of Vitamin A:
• Contributes to the production of retinal pigments.
• Required for the normal functioning of epithelial and glandular tissues.
• Supports growth, especially skeletal growth.
• It is anti-infective.
• Deficiency of Vitamin A leads to:
• Night blindness
• Conjunctival xerosis
• Bitot's spot
• Keratomalacia