Toxicology: epidemic dropsy: practice question

A Forensic Medicine 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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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: epidemic dropsy

Sample item

In a village, many people develop bilateral pitting leg oedema, diarrhoea and erythema, and some have glaucoma, after eating food cooked in mustard oil bought from a local mill. What is the cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Adulteration of mustard oil with Argemone mexicana seed oil containing sanguinarine

Epidemic dropsy results from mustard oil adulterated with argemone oil. Sanguinarine causes capillary dilatation and increased permeability, with bilateral oedema, erythema, diarrhoea, cardiac failure and sometimes glaucoma. Treatment is stopping the oil, with supportive care.

Option by option

  • A. Contamination of the oil with aflatoxin

    Aflatoxin causes hepatotoxicity and liver cancer, not oedema and glaucoma outbreaks.

  • B. Contamination of the oil with ergot alkaloids

    Ergot causes gangrenous or convulsive ergotism and is linked to grain, not mustard oil.

  • C. Ingestion of Lathyrus sativus dal

    Lathyrus causes neurolathyrism with spastic paraparesis.

  • D. Adulteration of mustard oil with Argemone mexicana seed oil containing sanguinarine (correct)

    Correct. Argemone oil with sanguinarine causes epidemic dropsy.

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 Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Adulteration of mustard oil with Argemone mexicana seed oil containing sanguinarine. Epidemic dropsy results from mustard oil adulterated with argemone oil.

Why is "Contamination of the oil with aflatoxin" not the answer?

Aflatoxin causes hepatotoxicity and liver cancer, not oedema and glaucoma outbreaks.

Why is "Contamination of the oil with ergot alkaloids" not the answer?

Ergot causes gangrenous or convulsive ergotism and is linked to grain, not mustard oil.

Why is "Ingestion of Lathyrus sativus dal" not the answer?

Lathyrus causes neurolathyrism with spastic paraparesis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: epidemic dropsy in Forensic Medicine. Sanguinarine causes capillary dilatation and increased permeability, with bilateral oedema, erythema, diarrhoea, cardiac failure and sometimes glaucoma. Treatment is stopping the oil, with supportive care.

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 Toxicology: epidemic dropsy?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine 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.