What is the dose of vitamin A for a 9-month-old baby?

Appeared in: NHM MP Staff Nurse-2019

Explanation

According to the National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Program in India, the first dose of Vitamin A is administered at 9 months of age.
This first dose is 100,000 International Units (IU), which is equivalent to 1 Lakh IU.
This dose is typically given along with the first dose of the measles vaccine.
The purpose is to prevent vitamin A deficiency, which can cause blindness and increase the risk of death from common childhood illnesses.

Option A: 50,000 IU is not the standard dose for a healthy 9-month-old. It is the recommended dose for infants younger than 6 months.
Option C: 2 Lakh IU (200,000 IU) is the dose given to children older than one year.
Option D: 4 Lakh IU is an excessive and potentially toxic single dose for an infant.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Vitamin A prophylaxis schedule for infants under the National Immunization Program helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
The nurse's role is critical in administering the correct dose at the right time, accurately documenting it, and educating parents on the schedule and importance of Vitamin A.
Failure to adhere to this schedule can leave children vulnerable to xerophthalmia (nutritional blindness) and increase their risk of severe complications from infections like measles and diarrhea.
What if? If a 1-year-old child who has not been fully immunized presents with active measles, they should be given a therapeutic dose of 200,000 IU of Vitamin A immediately, and a second dose the following day, to reduce complications and mortality.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key components of the question: the medication (Vitamin A) and the patient's age (9 months).
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of the National Immunization Schedule.
Recall the specific guidelines for Vitamin A prophylaxis in India.
Remember that the first dose is given at 9 months, concurrently with the measles vaccine.
Recall the specific quantity for this first dose, which is 1 Lakh IU (100,000 IU).
Compare this recalled fact with the given options to find the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Vitamin A prophylaxis schedule for infants under the National Immunization Program.
Stem keywords: dose, vitamin A, 9-month-old baby
Lead-in keywords: What is

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Practise the full NHM MP Staff Nurse-2019

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