Nutrition and malnutrition: pellagra and beriberi: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Nutrition and malnutrition: pellagra and beriberi

Sample item

A child on a maize-based diet has photosensitive dermatitis, diarrhoea and irritability. Which vitamin deficiency is responsible, and which is the deficiency in infantile beriberi?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Niacin; thiamine

Pellagra is caused by niacin deficiency and presents with dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia. Thiamine deficiency causes infantile beriberi with aphonia, cardiac failure and neuropathy.

Option by option

  • A. Riboflavin; niacin

    Riboflavin deficiency causes angular stomatitis and cheilosis.

  • B. Niacin; thiamine (correct)

    Correct. Niacin for pellagra and thiamine for beriberi.

  • C. Folate; vitamin C

    Folate and vitamin C deficiencies cause anaemia and scurvy.

  • D. Pyridoxine; cobalamin

    Pyridoxine deficiency causes seizures and cobalamin causes megaloblastic anaemia.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, Niacin; thiamine. Pellagra is caused by niacin deficiency and presents with dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia.

Why is "Riboflavin; niacin" not the answer?

Riboflavin deficiency causes angular stomatitis and cheilosis.

Why is "Folate; vitamin C" not the answer?

Folate and vitamin C deficiencies cause anaemia and scurvy.

Why is "Pyridoxine; cobalamin" not the answer?

Pyridoxine deficiency causes seizures and cobalamin causes megaloblastic anaemia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition and malnutrition: pellagra and beriberi in Pediatrics. Thiamine deficiency causes infantile beriberi with aphonia, cardiac failure and neuropathy.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Nutrition and malnutrition: pellagra and beriberi?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.