A 10 month old child weighing 8 kg is brought to the clinic due to repeated vomiting and persistent diarrhoea. On ophthalmological examination, Bitot's spots are seen on the bulbar conjunctiva of both eyes. What is the recommended schedule of vitamin A therapy to be given to this child?

According to the WHO treatment schedule, Bitot's spots are treated with Vitamin A at a dosage of 2 lakh IU orally or 1 lakh IU intramuscularly, immediately on diagnosis and repeated the following day and 4 weeks later, for children above 1 year of age. This includes children of 8 kg or more, as children less than 8 kg and less than 1 year of age are given half the above dosage. Though oral treatment is recommended, vitamin A is given intramuscularly in cases of repeated vomiting and severe diarrhoea. Ref: Ophthalmology, By A. K. Khurana, 3rd Edition, Page 416, 417.