The deficiency of Vitamin D in young children may cause?

UPRVUNL - 2021

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: UPRVUNL - 2021

Explanation

Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphorus absorption, which are vital for bone mineralization.
In growing children, a deficiency of Vitamin D impairs the mineralization of the epiphyseal growth plates.
This results in soft, pliable bones and characteristic skeletal deformities, a condition known as rickets.
Common signs include bowed legs (genu varum), knock-knees (genu valgum), and beading of the ribs (rachitic rosary).

Option A: Osteomalacia is the term for the softening of bones caused by Vitamin D deficiency in adults, not children.
Option B: Beriberi is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), not Vitamin D. It primarily affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Option C: Keratomalacia is a severe eye condition caused by a deficiency of Vitamin A, not Vitamin D. It leads to corneal ulcers and blindness.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional Deficiencies and Associated Diseases as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in preventing rickets through parental education on nutrition and safe sun exposure, especially for exclusively breastfed infants who require vitamin D supplementation.
Early recognition of rickets signs (e.g., delayed walking, bowed legs) during well-child visits is critical for timely intervention and preventing long-term skeletal deformities.
What if? If the patient was a 65-year-old woman with diffuse bone pain and a waddling gait, the most likely diagnosis related to Vitamin D deficiency would be osteomalacia, not rickets, due to her age and mature skeleton.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key components of the question: the specific nutrient ('Vitamin D') and the patient population ('young children').
Recall the diseases associated with Vitamin D deficiency. You should remember it causes bone-softening conditions.
Differentiate between the two main bone conditions caused by Vitamin D deficiency: Rickets and Osteomalacia.
Crucially, associate Rickets with children (due to its effect on growing bones) and Osteomalacia with adults.
Eliminate the other options by recalling their causes: Beriberi is from Vitamin B1 deficiency, and Keratomalacia is from Vitamin A deficiency.
Since the question specifies 'young children', select Rickets as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nutritional Deficiencies and Associated Diseases
Stem keywords: deficiency, Vitamin D, young children
Lead-in keywords: may cause
Clinical cues: Patient demographic is 'young children', which is a key factor in differentiating between rickets and osteomalacia.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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