Under national programme for prevention of nutritional blindness, a child in the age group of 6-11 months is given a mega dose of vitamin A equal to:
## **Core Concept**
The National Programme for Prevention of Nutritional Blindness aims to prevent vitamin A deficiency-related blindness in children. Vitamin A is crucial for the health of the retina and its deficiency can lead to night blindness and other severe ocular conditions. The program involves administering mega doses of vitamin A to children in specific age groups.
## **Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend that children with vitamin A deficiency or at risk of it should receive vitamin A supplements. For children aged 6-11 months, the recommended dose is 100,000 IU (International Units). This dose is critical for boosting the child's vitamin A levels and preventing nutritional blindness. The correct answer, , corresponds to this recommended dose.
## **Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
- **Option A:** 200,000 IU is actually the dose recommended for children aged 12 months and above, not for those in the 6-11 months age group.
- **Option C:** 50,000 IU is the dose often recommended for infants under 6 months, not for those aged 6-11 months.
- **Option D:** 300,000 IU is too high for the specified age group and is not a standard recommended dose.
## **Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key point to remember is that vitamin A supplementation is a critical strategy in preventing nutritional blindness. The dosing strategy often follows these guidelines: 50,000 IU for infants <6 months, 100,000 IU for children 6-11 months, and 200,000 IU for children ≥12 months. This information can be crucial for public health interventions and clinical practice.
## **Correct Answer:** . 100,000 IU.