Nutrition and malnutrition: stabilisation phase: 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: stabilisation phase

Sample item

During the stabilisation phase of severe acute malnutrition, iron is withheld. What is the reason?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Free iron promotes bacterial growth and oxidative injury before recovery

Malnourished children have low transferrin, so extra iron remains unbound and fuels bacteria and free-radical damage. Iron is started only after appetite returns and the child is gaining weight, usually in the rehabilitation phase.

Option by option

  • A. Iron causes severe hypoglycaemia

    Iron does not lower the blood glucose.

  • B. Iron impairs absorption of potassium

    Iron does not interfere with potassium absorption.

  • C. Free iron promotes bacterial growth and oxidative injury before recovery (correct)

    Correct. Unbound iron promotes infection and oxidative damage in the early phase.

  • D. Iron causes immediate hepatic fibrosis

    Fibrosis does not appear with short-term iron exposure.

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, Free iron promotes bacterial growth and oxidative injury before recovery. Malnourished children have low transferrin, so extra iron remains unbound and fuels bacteria and free-radical damage.

Why is "Iron causes severe hypoglycaemia" not the answer?

Iron does not lower the blood glucose.

Why is "Iron impairs absorption of potassium" not the answer?

Iron does not interfere with potassium absorption.

Why is "Iron causes immediate hepatic fibrosis" not the answer?

Fibrosis does not appear with short-term iron exposure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition and malnutrition: stabilisation phase in Pediatrics. Iron is started only after appetite returns and the child is gaining weight, usually in the rehabilitation phase.

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: stabilisation phase?

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.