Xerophthalmia among hospitalized Iraqi children

Abstract

To determine the impact of sanctions on the nutritional status of Iraqi children aged < 6 years, a random sample of 700 patients (age range: 0-6 years) from the Saddam Paediatric Hospital, Diyala Province, Iraq were examined ophthalmologically for evidence of xerophthalmia. Data on the history of infection, feeding and night blindness were also collected. The prevalence of xerophthalmia was 29%, mostly among children aged 1-3 years. Xerophthalmia was significantly inversely associated with breastfeeding and highly associated with common childhood infections such as measles, diarrhoea and respiratory tract infection. Xerophthalmia is a common problem among sick Iraqi children. Efforts to identify, evaluate and monitor vitamin A deficiency and to advocate and plan its eradication should be implemented.