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Updated 14:54 IST, February 3rd 2025

8-Year-Old Malaysian Boy Suffers Sudden Vision Loss Due To Poor Diet. Know More About The Condition

"The most severe effects of Vitamin A deficiency are seen in young children and pregnant women in low-income countries," claims WHO.

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Vitamin A Deficiency.
Vitamin A Deficiency. | Image: Pexels

An 8-year-old boy from Malaysia suddenly screams in the middle of class only to find out later that he has lost his vision due to a poor diet. The little boy was rushed to a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, where he was diagnosed with optic neuropathy caused by severe Vitamin A deficiency.

According to local reports, the 2nd grader has a very poor diet, which has left him severely malnourished. It was also revealed that he has only consumed processed foods like chicken nuggets, sausages, and cookies since he was a small baby.

(Vitamin A Deficiency. Image: Pexels)

What is Vitamin A deficiency?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), about 250,000–500,000 children in a year go blind due to Vitamin A deficiency, and half of them die due to the condition.

“Vitamin A deficiency results from a dietary intake of vitamin A that is inadequate to satisfy physiological needs. It may be exacerbated by high rates of infection, especially diarrhoea, and measles. It is common in developing countries but rarely seen in developed countries. Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in more than half of all countries, especially those in Africa and South-East Asia. The most severe effects of this deficiency are seen in young children and pregnant women in low-income countries," explains WHO.

(Vitamin A deficiency. Image: Pexels)

Some of the consequences you may encounter when you have a Vitamin A deficiency, as per WHO are as follows:

  • Night blindness is one of the first signs of Vitamin A deficiency.
  • It can also contribute to maternal mortality and other poor outcomes of pregnancy and lactation.
  • Vitamin A deficiency can weaken your system which diminishes the ability to fight infections.
  • Risk of respiratory and diarrhoeal infections,
  • Decrease growth rates,
  • Slow bone development
  • Low rate of survival from serious illness.

Published 14:40 IST, February 3rd 2025