NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shif…: Rickets in children is caused by which vitamin deficiency?

NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Rickets is a metabolic disease characterized by defective mineralization of the growing bones in children.
The condition is most commonly caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D, which is crucial for regulating calcium and phosphate absorption and metabolism.
Without adequate Vitamin D, the body cannot absorb enough calcium from the diet to properly build and harden the bone matrix at the growth plates.
This results in soft, pliable bones that are prone to deformities under the stress of weight-bearing, such as the bowed legs (genu varum) shown in the image.

Option B: Vitamin E deficiency is rare and does not cause rickets. Its deficiency is primarily associated with neurological issues and the breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia).
Option C: Vitamin A deficiency is known to cause vision problems, such as night blindness and xerophthalmia, as well as impaired immune function. It is not involved in the calcium metabolism that leads to rickets.
Option D: Vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy, a disease of impaired collagen synthesis. While scurvy affects bones, causing pain and risk of fractures, it is pathologically distinct from the defective mineralization seen in rickets.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional Deficiencies and Bone Disorders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in preventing rickets through patient education on nutrition and safe sun exposure, especially for high-risk groups like exclusively breastfed infants.
Assessment skills are crucial for identifying early signs of rickets, such as delayed motor milestones, bone pain, and skeletal deformities, to facilitate timely intervention.
Nurses administer prescribed Vitamin D and calcium supplements and monitor the child's response to treatment, including improvement in bone health and resolution of symptoms.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which asks for the specific vitamin deficiency that causes rickets in children.
Next, analyze the provided image. Recognize the bowed legs (genu varum) as a classic clinical sign of skeletal deformity.
Connect the visual cue (bowed legs) to the condition named in the stem (rickets). This confirms you are looking for the cause of this specific bone disease.
Access your foundational knowledge of nutrition and pediatric disorders. Recall the primary role of different vitamins in the body.
Evaluate the options: Vitamin D is directly linked to calcium absorption and bone mineralization. The other vitamins (A, C, E) have different primary functions.
Select Vitamin D as the correct answer because its deficiency directly impairs the process of bone formation, leading to the signs and symptoms of rickets.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q9eiUb70zRj-UXvaKXWacs

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

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 102-104

E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 132-134