“Life is a one-time offer—use it well. You are the hero of your life, so make each day amazing.”
— Dr. Anand Bhatia
Vitamin A is one of the most important topics in Pediatrics, both for patient care and for NEET PG/INI-CET exams. Dr. Anand Bhatia breaks down the must-know MCQs every aspirant should master.
First Symptom vs. First Clinical Sign
A classic exam favourite:
- First Symptom: Night blindness
The earliest complaint a patient experiences. - First Clinical Sign: Conjunctival xerosis
Dryness of the conjunctiva visible on examination.
Remember these exact phrases—they’re straight MCQ material.
Bitot’s Spots & Classification
Another high-yield question:
- Bitot’s spots are whitish, foamy patches on the sclera.
- They are classified as X1B in the WHO grading of Vitamin A deficiency.
Tip to recall: B for Bitot’s, B for X1B.
National Vitamin A Prophylaxis
Routine prophylaxis is a frequent exam question:
- First dose: At 9 months of age (along with measles vaccine).
- Subsequent doses: Every 6 months until the child is 5 years old.
- Total: 9 doses covering about 17 lakh IU overall.
Therapeutic Doses by Age
For treatment or supplementation, memorise these numbers:
| Age Group | Dose (International Units) |
| < 6 months | 50,000 IU |
| 6 months – 1 year | 1,00,000 IU |
| > 1 year | 2,00,000 IU |
| > 1 year but < 8 kg weight | 1,00,000 IU |
Quick hack: Smaller baby → smaller dose.
Key Takeaways for NEET PG
- First symptom: Night blindness
- First sign: Conjunctival xerosis
- Bitot’s spots → X1B classification
- Vitamin A prophylaxis: Start at 9 months, every 6 months, total 9 doses
Final Words
“Common things are common, and rare things are rare—master the common ones first and become the best.”
— Dr. Anand Bhatia
Stay consistent, revise smartly, and keep these pearls handy for quick recall on exam day.
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