Mild vitamin A deficiency and childhood morbidity--an Indian experience.

Over 1500 preschool urban Indian children were followed weekly for morbidity from 12 to 18 mo. Examination for mild xerophthalmia (Bitot's spots and night blindness) was done initially and at 6 and 12 mo. Children with mild xerophthalmia at the start of a 6-mo interval developed respiratory disease in the interval twice as often as children with normal eyes at the start of the interval. No association was found between mild xerophthalmia and incidence of diarrhea.