Vitamin A Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes & Prevention

Deficiency diseases of vitamin A:

- Night blindness: Difficulty seeing in low light or at night.

- Dry eyes: Lack of tears or insufficient tear production.

- Bitot's spots: Whitish, foamy patches on the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye).

- Corneal ulceration and scarring: Damage to the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, which can lead to permanent blindness.

- Increased susceptibility to infections: Vitamin A deficiency can weaken the immune system, making people more vulnerable to infections like measles, diarrhea, and respiratory infections.

- Follicular hyperkeratosis: Abnormal thickening and roughness of the skin due to the accumulation of keratin, a protein found in the skin.

- Growth retardation and impaired development in children.

- Infertility in both men and women.