Nutrition: zinc deficiency: practice question

A PSM 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.

Try it

PSM · Nutrition: zinc deficiency

Sample item

A malnourished 3-year-old has a peri-oral and perianal vesiculobullous rash, hair loss, poor appetite and frequent infections. Her wounds heal slowly. Which micronutrient deficiency is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Zinc

Zinc deficiency causes acrodermatitis-like skin lesions, alopecia, anorexia, impaired taste, poor wound healing, growth retardation and increased infections. Zinc supplementation is also given in childhood diarrhoea to reduce its duration and recurrence.

Option by option

  • A. Zinc (correct)

    Correct. Acral and peri-orificial dermatitis with poor healing and recurrent infections point to zinc deficiency.

  • B. Selenium

    Selenium deficiency is linked to cardiomyopathy and is rare.

  • C. Copper

    Copper deficiency causes anaemia and neutropenia, and the rash is not typical.

  • D. Iron

    Iron deficiency causes pallor, koilonychia and anaemia, not this rash.

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 PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Zinc. Zinc deficiency causes acrodermatitis-like skin lesions, alopecia, anorexia, impaired taste, poor wound healing, growth retardation and increased infections.

Why is "Selenium" not the answer?

Selenium deficiency is linked to cardiomyopathy and is rare.

Why is "Copper" not the answer?

Copper deficiency causes anaemia and neutropenia, and the rash is not typical.

Why is "Iron" not the answer?

Iron deficiency causes pallor, koilonychia and anaemia, not this rash.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition: zinc deficiency in PSM. Zinc supplementation is also given in childhood diarrhoea to reduce its duration and recurrence.

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: zinc deficiency?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.