Nutrition: scurvy: 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: scurvy

Sample item

A 9-month-old on boiled cow's milk is irritable, lies with legs held in frog position, and has swollen bleeding gums. X-ray shows a ground-glass bone with a white line at the metaphysis. What is the cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Vitamin C deficiency

Infantile scurvy produces subperiosteal haemorrhage and pseudoparalysis, with a Wimberger ring, Frankel line and a ground-glass appearance. Vitamin C is needed for collagen synthesis and is destroyed on boiling milk. Treatment is oral vitamin C 100 to 200 mg per day.

Option by option

  • A. Vitamin D deficiency

    Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets with cupping and fraying.

  • B. Vitamin K deficiency

    Vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding without these radiological features.

  • C. Vitamin C deficiency (correct)

    Correct. Vitamin C deficiency impairs collagen, causing these features.

  • D. Vitamin A excess

    Vitamin A excess gives periosteal thickening and raised pressure.

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 C, Vitamin C deficiency. Infantile scurvy produces subperiosteal haemorrhage and pseudoparalysis, with a Wimberger ring, Frankel line and a ground-glass appearance.

Why is "Vitamin D deficiency" not the answer?

Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets with cupping and fraying.

Why is "Vitamin K deficiency" not the answer?

Vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding without these radiological features.

Why is "Vitamin A excess" not the answer?

Vitamin A excess gives periosteal thickening and raised pressure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition: scurvy in Pediatrics. Vitamin C is needed for collagen synthesis and is destroyed on boiling milk. Treatment is oral vitamin C 100 to 200 mg per day.

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: scurvy?

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.