The recommended dosage of vitamin A supplement to be administered orally once in every six months for a three year old child is?

Appeared in: Tripura CHO - 2021

Explanation

The question asks for the prophylactic dose of Vitamin A for a 3-year-old child, given every six months.
According to India's National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Programme, children between the ages of 1 and 5 years receive a high dose of Vitamin A solution.
The standard dose for this age group (12-59 months) is 2,00,000 IU (which is equivalent to 2 ml of the standard oral solution) administered every 6 months.
A three-year-old child fits squarely within this age bracket, making 2,00,000 IU the correct dosage.

Option A: This dose is extremely low and would be ineffective for six-monthly prophylaxis. A dose of 5,000 IU is closer to a daily therapeutic requirement, not a high-dose preventive measure.
Option B: This dose is incorrect for a 3-year-old. It is the recommended dose for treating deficiency in infants under 6 months of age.
Option C: This is the dose for a younger age group. It is half the required prophylactic dose for a child over one year of age.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Programme as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The Vitamin A prophylaxis program is a cornerstone of child survival strategies in India, significantly reducing mortality from measles and diarrhea, and preventing nutritional blindness (xerophthalmia).
Nurses play a vital role in this program by accurately administering the dose, educating mothers on the importance and schedule, and correctly documenting it in the child's immunization card.
Patient Safety: Ensuring the correct dose for the correct age is critical. An overdose can lead to acute toxicity (bulging fontanels, vomiting), while an underdose fails to provide protection.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key information in the question: the supplement (Vitamin A), the patient's age (3 years), and the frequency of administration (every six months).
This question tests your knowledge of a standard national health program. Access your memory of the National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Programme schedule.
Recall the specific age brackets and their corresponding doses. The key age cut-offs are typically at 6 months, 12 months, and 5 years.
Place the 3-year-old child in the correct bracket, which is the '1 to 5 years' group.
Remember the dose for this group is 2,00,000 IU.
Compare this recalled dose with the given options and select the matching one.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Programme
Stem keywords: vitamin A supplement, dosage, orally, six months, three year old child
Lead-in keywords: recommended dosage
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 143-145

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 515-517

Practise the full Tripura CHO - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.