Nutrition: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Nutrition

Sample item

A child has bilateral pedal oedema, flaky-paint skin lesions, sparse hair, an enlarged fatty liver and irritability. Which condition is likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Kwashiorkor

Kwashiorkor results from predominantly protein deficiency with adequate energy intake. Low albumin causes oedema, and the child has fatty liver, skin and hair changes and apathy.

Option by option

  • A. Nutritional dwarfing

    Nutritional dwarfing is stunting without oedema.

  • B. Marasmus

    Marasmus shows severe wasting without oedema, with a normal liver and alert child.

  • C. Rickets

    Rickets is a vitamin D deficiency bone disease and is not associated with oedema.

  • D. Kwashiorkor (correct)

    Oedema with skin and hair changes and fatty liver defines kwashiorkor.

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.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Kwashiorkor. Kwashiorkor results from predominantly protein deficiency with adequate energy intake.

Why is "Nutritional dwarfing" not the answer?

Nutritional dwarfing is stunting without oedema.

Why is "Marasmus" not the answer?

Marasmus shows severe wasting without oedema, with a normal liver and alert child.

Why is "Rickets" not the answer?

Rickets is a vitamin D deficiency bone disease and is not associated with oedema.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition in PSM. Low albumin causes oedema, and the child has fatty liver, skin and hair changes and apathy.

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?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.