Nutrition and malnutrition: lactose intolerance: 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: lactose intolerance

Sample item

An infant has persistent watery acidic stools with perianal excoriation after an episode of gastroenteritis. The stool pH is 5 and reducing substances are positive. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Secondary lactose intolerance

Secondary lactose intolerance follows injury to the intestinal brush border after gastroenteritis, giving acidic stools with reducing substances. Management is continuing breastfeeding and temporary use of lactose-free formula if severe.

Option by option

  • A. Secondary lactose intolerance (correct)

    Correct. Acid stool with reducing substances after diarrhoea indicates it.

  • B. Cystic fibrosis

    Cystic fibrosis has fatty stools and respiratory disease.

  • C. Coeliac disease

    Coeliac disease presents after gluten exposure with chronic diarrhoea and growth failure.

  • D. Giardiasis

    Giardiasis produces foul-smelling fatty stools.

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, Secondary lactose intolerance. Secondary lactose intolerance follows injury to the intestinal brush border after gastroenteritis, giving acidic stools with reducing substances.

Why is "Cystic fibrosis" not the answer?

Cystic fibrosis has fatty stools and respiratory disease.

Why is "Coeliac disease" not the answer?

Coeliac disease presents after gluten exposure with chronic diarrhoea and growth failure.

Why is "Giardiasis" not the answer?

Giardiasis produces foul-smelling fatty stools.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition and malnutrition: lactose intolerance in Pediatrics. Management is continuing breastfeeding and temporary use of lactose-free formula if severe.

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: lactose intolerance?

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.