Which among the following is a nutritional problem in India?

WCL Staff Nurse - 2022

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Medium

Appeared in: WCL Staff Nurse - 2022

Explanation

Xerophthalmia refers to the entire spectrum of eye problems that arise from Vitamin A deficiency, making it a nutritional disorder.
It is recognized as a significant public health and nutritional problem in India, being a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness.
The condition progresses from early signs like night blindness and Bitot's spots to severe, irreversible damage like keratomalacia (corneal softening).
The other options listed are communicable diseases caused by pathogens (bacteria or viruses), not by a lack of nutrients.

Option B: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. Its primary cause is pathogenic, not nutritional.
Option C: Acute respiratory disease (ARI) is a broad term for infections of the respiratory tract, commonly caused by viruses or bacteria. It is an infectious condition, not a nutritional one.
Option D: AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a viral disease caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). It is a communicable disease that attacks the immune system, not a primary nutritional disorder.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of major nutritional problems in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses in community health settings play a vital role in screening children for early signs of Vitamin A deficiency, such as night blindness and Bitot's spots.
A key nursing intervention is administering Vitamin A supplements to children under five years as per the National Health Mission guidelines to prevent blindness.
Health education provided by nurses to mothers and caregivers about incorporating Vitamin A-rich foods (like carrots, pumpkin, mangoes, green leafy vegetables, milk, and eggs) into the family diet is crucial for long-term prevention.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question stem to identify the core concept being tested, which is 'nutritional problem'.
Next, evaluate each option based on its fundamental cause or etiology.
Categorize each condition. Is it caused by a lack of a specific nutrient (nutritional), or is it caused by a pathogen like a virus or bacterium (infectious/communicable)?
Recall or deduce that Xerophthalmia is the clinical term for eye disease caused by Vitamin A deficiency.
Recognize that Leprosy (bacterial), Acute respiratory disease (infectious), and AIDS (viral) are all communicable diseases.
Based on this categorization, conclude that Xerophthalmia is the only option that fits the description of a 'nutritional problem'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) pp. 118-120, 179-181, 178-180