Nutrition and malnutrition: goat's milk and megaloblastic anaemia: 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: goat's milk and megaloblastic anaemia

Sample item

A 10-month-old fed only goat's milk is pale. The blood count shows macrocytic anaemia with hypersegmented neutrophils and megaloblastic marrow. Which nutrient is deficient?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Folic acid

Goat's milk is poor in folic acid, and infants fed on it without supplements may develop megaloblastic anaemia. Treatment is folic acid and a balanced diet with complementary foods.

Option by option

  • A. Pyridoxine

    Pyridoxine deficiency causes seizures and sideroblastic changes, not megaloblastic anaemia.

  • B. Vitamin K

    Vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding without megaloblastic anaemia.

  • C. Iron

    Iron deficiency gives microcytic hypochromic anaemia.

  • D. Folic acid (correct)

    Correct. Goat's milk lacks adequate folate, so macrocytic megaloblastic anaemia results.

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 D, Folic acid. Goat's milk is poor in folic acid, and infants fed on it without supplements may develop megaloblastic anaemia.

Why is "Pyridoxine" not the answer?

Pyridoxine deficiency causes seizures and sideroblastic changes, not megaloblastic anaemia.

Why is "Vitamin K" not the answer?

Vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding without megaloblastic anaemia.

Why is "Iron" not the answer?

Iron deficiency gives microcytic hypochromic anaemia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition and malnutrition: goat's milk and megaloblastic anaemia in Pediatrics. Treatment is folic acid and a balanced diet with complementary foods.

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: goat's milk and megaloblastic anaemia?

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.