Deficiency of vitamin D in adult's causes

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2023

Explanation

Osteomalacia is the specific term for the softening of bones in adults due to inadequate bone mineralization.
This condition is a direct consequence of vitamin D deficiency, which impairs the body's ability to absorb calcium and phosphorus.
Unlike osteoporosis, which involves loss of bone mass, osteomalacia is a defect in the quality of the bone matrix.
The primary pathology is an accumulation of unmineralized osteoid on bone surfaces.

Option B: Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass and density, making bones porous and brittle. While vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor, the primary defect in osteomalacia is impaired mineralization, not loss of existing bone tissue.
Option C: Rickets is the term for vitamin D deficiency in children. It affects growing bones, particularly the growth plates, leading to skeletal deformities.
Option D: This is a general term for a clinical sign, not the specific name of the disease. Bone deformities can be a feature of severe, long-standing rickets or osteomalacia, but it is not the underlying diagnosis.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Metabolic bone disease caused by vitamin D deficiency in adults as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in identifying at-risk populations for vitamin D deficiency, such as the elderly, those with limited sun exposure, and individuals with malabsorption syndromes.
Patient education is critical, focusing on diet, the importance of safe sun exposure, and adherence to supplementation to prevent or treat osteomalacia.
For hospitalized patients with osteomalacia, fall prevention is a top nursing priority due to the high risk of fractures from weak bones and associated muscle weakness.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question stem: 'deficiency of vitamin D' and 'adults'.
Recall the two primary skeletal diseases caused by vitamin D deficiency: Rickets and Osteomalacia.
Differentiate between these two conditions based on the patient's age. Rickets occurs in children with growing bones, while Osteomalacia occurs in adults with mature bones.
Evaluate the other options. Osteoporosis is a disease of bone density, not mineralization. 'Bone deformities' is a symptom, not a specific disease entity.
Based on the keyword 'adults', select Osteomalacia as the correct diagnosis.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 446-448

E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-239 of 478) p. 126-128

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