Food consumption of children with and without xerophthalmia in rural Tanzania.

Food intake of 26 children (4-9 years old) of whom nine had xerophthalmic eye lesions (Bitot's spots), was recorded over a period of four days. The principal staple foods were maize and sweet potatoes, while sorghum and cassava were also used as staple foods. The intake of energy was rather low partly due to the bulkiness of the diet. Protein intake was above the recommended intake but mainly derived from vegetable sources. The intake of retinol, beta-carotene, folic acid and iron was low in all children especially those with xerophthalmia. Dried green leafy vegetables contributed about 20% of the total beta-carotene intake during the period that the survey was carried out.

Prevalence of xerophthalmia in relation to nutrition and general health in preschool-age children in three regions of Tanzania.

Integrated nutrition/health surveys were carried out in Mbeya, Iringa and Kagera Regions in Tanzania in which a total of 12,880 children were examined for the presence of xerophthalmia. Xerophthalmia was found to be a problem of public health significance in two of the three regions surveyed where the prevalence of active corneal xerophthalmic lesions was above the criteria set by WHO. Because of clustering of the children with Bitot's spots, corneal xerosis/ulceration and corneal scarring, only certain villages or groups of villages could be regarded as areas where xerophthalmia is a problem. The results of the ophthalmological examinations are discussed in relation to the nutritional status of the children as measured by anthropometric indices, serum levels of retinol-binding protein and prealbumin, haematological parameters, and vaccination status.