Nutrition: acrodermatitis enteropathica: 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: acrodermatitis enteropathica

Sample item

An infant weaned from breast milk develops perioral and perianal vesiculobullous dermatitis, alopecia and diarrhoea. Which supplement is the specific treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Oral zinc

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is an autosomal recessive defect of zinc absorption (SLC39A4) and is treated with lifelong oral zinc. Symptoms appear after weaning because breast milk zinc is more bioavailable. Zinc level is low and alkaline phosphatase is decreased.

Option by option

  • A. Biotin

    Biotin deficiency produces a similar rash but with different context.

  • B. Niacin

    Niacin deficiency causes pellagra with photosensitive dermatitis.

  • C. Vitamin B12

    B12 deficiency does not cause this pattern.

  • D. Oral zinc (correct)

    Correct. Lifelong zinc is curative.

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, Oral zinc. Acrodermatitis enteropathica is an autosomal recessive defect of zinc absorption (SLC39A4) and is treated with lifelong oral zinc.

Why is "Biotin" not the answer?

Biotin deficiency produces a similar rash but with different context.

Why is "Niacin" not the answer?

Niacin deficiency causes pellagra with photosensitive dermatitis.

Why is "Vitamin B12" not the answer?

B12 deficiency does not cause this pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition: acrodermatitis enteropathica in Pediatrics. Symptoms appear after weaning because breast milk zinc is more bioavailable. Zinc level is low and alkaline phosphatase is decreased.

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: acrodermatitis enteropathica?

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.