Benign intracranial hypertension is found in?

ISRO- 2016

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: ISRO- 2016

Explanation

Vitamin A toxicity. This condition, also known as hypervitaminosis A, is a well-established cause of benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri).
Excessive intake of preformed vitamin A (retinol) leads to increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure.
This rise in pressure mimics the signs and symptoms of a brain tumor, such as severe headaches, papilledema (swelling of the optic disc), and vision changes, without an actual tumor being present.

Option A: Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. Toxicity is rare but typically manifests as gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and nausea, or an increased risk of oxalate kidney stones. It does not cause increased intracranial pressure.
Option B: Vitamin D toxicity leads to hypercalcemia (abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood). Symptoms are related to high calcium levels and include nausea, vomiting, weakness, frequent urination, and bone pain. It is not associated with benign intracranial hypertension.
Option C: Vitamin K toxicity is very rare from natural sources. A synthetic form (menadione) can cause hemolytic anemia and jaundice, particularly in infants. It is not linked to increased intracranial pressure.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Complications of Vitamin Toxicity as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must educate patients taking high-dose vitamin A supplements or retinoid medications (e.g., isotretinoin for acne) about the symptoms of intracranial hypertension.
Key patient teaching points include immediately reporting severe or persistent headaches, blurred vision, double vision, or nausea and vomiting.
What if? If a patient on isotretinoin reports a new, severe headache, the nurse's priority is to facilitate an urgent medical and ophthalmological evaluation for papilledema, rather than simply administering an analgesic. This is a potential medical emergency that threatens vision.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core clinical condition in the question: 'Benign intracranial hypertension' (also known as pseudotumor cerebri).
Recall the common causes of this condition. Think broadly about categories like medications, metabolic disorders, and nutritional factors.
Systematically evaluate each option. Consider the known toxic effects of each vitamin.
For Vitamin A, recall that it is a fat-soluble vitamin, and toxicity can cause neurological symptoms, including increased intracranial pressure.
For Vitamins C, D, and K, recall their primary toxicity profiles (GI issues/kidney stones for C, hypercalcemia for D, hemolysis for K) and note that they are not associated with intracranial hypertension.
Select the option that directly matches a known cause of the condition described in the stem.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QB8vcxp6BAP507WBaWi9fM

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 500-502

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 2 p. 1589-1591