Nutrition and malnutrition: hypervitaminosis A: 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: hypervitaminosis A

Sample item

A toddler given a large vitamin A overdose over several weeks develops vomiting, bulging fontanelle, hair loss and painful bony swellings. What is the likely mechanism of the raised pressure?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Pseudotumour cerebri from hypervitaminosis A

Hypervitaminosis A causes pseudotumour cerebri with bulging fontanelle, vomiting, alopecia, dry skin and hepatomegaly. Acute toxicity from a megadose also causes vomiting and drowsiness.

Option by option

  • A. Pseudotumour cerebri from hypervitaminosis A (correct)

    Correct. Excess vitamin A raises intracranial pressure.

  • B. Rickets

    Rickets does not cause a bulging fontanelle.

  • C. Hydrocephalus from aqueduct stenosis

    Aqueduct stenosis produces progressive macrocephaly and not hair loss.

  • D. Bacterial meningitis

    Meningitis presents with fever and signs of infection.

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 A, Pseudotumour cerebri from hypervitaminosis A. Hypervitaminosis A causes pseudotumour cerebri with bulging fontanelle, vomiting, alopecia, dry skin and hepatomegaly.

Why is "Rickets" not the answer?

Rickets does not cause a bulging fontanelle.

Why is "Hydrocephalus from aqueduct stenosis" not the answer?

Aqueduct stenosis produces progressive macrocephaly and not hair loss.

Why is "Bacterial meningitis" not the answer?

Meningitis presents with fever and signs of infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition and malnutrition: hypervitaminosis A in Pediatrics. Acute toxicity from a megadose also causes vomiting and drowsiness.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: hypervitaminosis A?

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.