1Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
2Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
3Junior Resident, Department of Pediatrics, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
*Corresponding author: Dr. Manas Ranjan Behera Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIITU University, Bhubaneswar Pin-751024. Ph-09937022115 E Mail-Drmanas73@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 4 January, 2017.
The Present study was done to assess the prevalence of xerophthalmia in a population of tribal residential school children and identify different bio-social factors associated with it.
This was a cross sectional descriptive study, conducted in a residential tribal school of Odisha. The study population comprised of five hundred children in the age group of 5 to 10 years, studying in class 1 to class 5, chosen by random sampling. A structured proforma was used to collect the information and ophthalmological examination was done to diagnose xerophthalmia. Xerophthalmia was diagnosed if there was history of night blindness, or there were signs of cojunctival xerosis, Bitot's spots, corneal xerosis and keratomalacia on clinical examination. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS windows version 14.0 software.
The overall prevalence of xerophthalmia was found out to be 6.01%, though isolated conjunctival xerosis was seen in 35% of cases. The results were comparable in boys (6.2%) and girls (5.7%). It was found to increase with increasing age, reaching the highest at 9 to 10 years of age (10.1%). Moderate to severe malnutrition and large family size (>6) were found to be significantly associated with it (P < 0.05).
Xerophthalmia is a major public health problem in tribal children staying in residential school.
Xerophthalmia, Vitamin A deficiency, School children, Tribal children
