Which neurological disease can be caused by the prolonged consumption of khesari dal over a period of 2-6 mon… - BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

Edition 3

Easy

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

Explanation

Lathyrism, also known as neurolathyrism, is a neurological disease characterized by spastic paralysis of the lower limbs.
It is directly caused by the long-term consumption (over 2-6 months) of pulses from Lathyrus sativus, commonly known as khesari dal.
The pulse contains a potent neurotoxin, Beta-oxalyl-amino-alanine (BOAA), which damages motor neurons in the nervous system.
The disease primarily affects young men and progresses through stages, from a latent stage with an ungainly gait to severe stages requiring crutches or resulting in crawling.

Option A: Vitamin A deficiency is a nutritional disorder caused by insufficient intake of vitamin A. It primarily affects vision (causing night blindness and xerophthalmia) and the immune system, not motor paralysis.
Option B: Endemic fluorosis is caused by the ingestion of excessive amounts of fluoride, usually through contaminated drinking water. It leads to dental fluorosis (mottling of teeth) and skeletal fluorosis (bone and joint deformities), not spastic paralysis.
Option C: Iodine deficiency is the primary cause of thyroid gland disorders, such as goiter, and can lead to developmental issues like cretinism in children. It does not cause spastic paralysis from consuming a specific dal.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Toxin-induced neurological disorders helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a crucial role in community health education, particularly in regions where khesari dal is a staple food due to poverty or crop failure.
Identifying early signs of lathyrism (e.g., changes in gait) is critical for early intervention, as withdrawing the dal from the diet can lead to remission in the initial stages.
What if? If the patient presented with similar leg weakness but also had a history of living in an area with high fluoride in the water and showed mottled teeth, the primary suspicion would shift from Lathyrism to skeletal fluorosis.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements in the question: 'neurological disease', 'prolonged consumption', and 'khesari dal'.
The term 'khesari dal' is a very specific clue pointing to a particular food-induced toxicity.
Recall or deduce the diseases associated with each option. Vitamin A and Iodine deficiencies are micronutrient-related. Fluorosis is related to mineral toxicity from water.
Connect 'khesari dal' to its known associated disease, Lathyrism, which is a classic example of food toxin-induced neurological damage.
Eliminate the other options as their causes (lack of a vitamin, lack of iodine, excess fluoride) do not match the specific cause mentioned in the stem (consumption of khesari dal).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Toxin-induced neurological disorders
Stem keywords: neurological disease, prolonged consumption, khesari dal
Lead-in keywords: Which
Clinical cues: The link between a specific food item (khesari dal) and a neurological outcome is the key clinical cue.

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 181-183