Infections: pellagra: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · Infections: pellagra

Sample item

A man on a maize-based diet with chronic alcohol use has a photosensitive, well-demarcated brown scaly rash around the neck, along with diarrhoea and confusion. What is deficient?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Niacin

Pellagra, caused by niacin (and tryptophan) deficiency, presents with dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia. The rash on the neck is Casal's necklace. Maize diets and alcoholism are risk factors, and treatment is nicotinamide.

Option by option

  • A. Niacin (correct)

    Correct. Dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia point to niacin deficiency.

  • B. Zinc

    Zinc deficiency causes acral and periorificial dermatitis, as in acrodermatitis enteropathica.

  • C. Riboflavin

    Riboflavin deficiency gives angular cheilitis and glossitis.

  • D. Vitamin K

    Vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding.

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.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Niacin. Pellagra, caused by niacin (and tryptophan) deficiency, presents with dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia.

Why is "Zinc" not the answer?

Zinc deficiency causes acral and periorificial dermatitis, as in acrodermatitis enteropathica.

Why is "Riboflavin" not the answer?

Riboflavin deficiency gives angular cheilitis and glossitis.

Why is "Vitamin K" not the answer?

Vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: pellagra in Dermatology. The rash on the neck is Casal's necklace. Maize diets and alcoholism are risk factors, and treatment is nicotinamide.

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 Infections: pellagra?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.