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Chapter 16: Why Children lose Their Vision and What We Can Do

Treatment:

• Give 3 doses of vitamin A. The first dose should be given as soon as you find out your child has 'night blindness' or 'dry eyes'. Give the second dose the next day, then a third dose 14 days later.

In the chart below, one capsule contains 50,000 IU (international units) of vitamin A.

Note: Once a child loses some of her sight, treatment will not get back that part of her sight. But starting treatment right away can keep her from losing any more of her sight.

Prevention:

• Breastfeed your children as long as possible - at least for 1 year, but even longer if you can.
• Try to make sure your child eats food rich in vitamin A every day.
• If a child is sick with measles, try to give her extra foods with vitamin A.

MEASLES (RUBEOLA)

Measles is a sickness that passes from person to person. If a child is already weak from not eating enough good foods or from diarrhea, being sick with measles can make her lose some or all of her sight.

Signs of measles:

• fever, runny nose, and cough
• red eyes
• red rash all over the body

Treatment:

• Your child should rest, drink a lot, and eat healthy foods. If a baby cannot breastfeed, give her breast milk with a cup.
• Give one dose of vitamin A (see the chart at the top of this page) as soon as you find out your child has measles. This will prevent 'dry eyes.'
• Give rehydration drink for diarrhea (see next page). This will help replace the liquids and nutrients lost when a child has diarrhea.

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