Which of the following deficiency disease is also known as "rice eater's" disease?

Appeared in: UPRVUNL - 2021

Explanation

Beriberi is the correct answer as it is historically known as 'rice eater's disease'.
This disease is caused by a deficiency of thiamine (Vitamin B1).
The deficiency arises from a diet heavily reliant on polished white rice, as the milling process removes the thiamine-rich outer layers of the grain.
The condition manifests in 'wet' (cardiovascular) and 'dry' (neurological) forms.

Option A: Rickets is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate, leading to soft and weak bones in children.
Option C: Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C, leading to anemia, debility, exhaustion, and bleeding. It is associated with a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Option D: Pellagra is caused by a deficiency of Niacin (Vitamin B3). It is often associated with diets where maize (corn) is the staple food, as the niacin in maize is not easily absorbed.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Eponyms and historical names of nutritional deficiency diseases helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a crucial role in dietary counseling and health education, especially in communities with monotonous diets. Recognizing the link between diet and specific diseases like Beriberi is essential for prevention.
A key nursing intervention for a patient with suspected Beriberi is to assess their dietary history, monitor for neurological and cardiovascular symptoms (like edema or foot drop), and prepare for thiamine administration as prescribed.
What if? If a patient presents with similar neurological symptoms but has a history of chronic alcoholism instead of a rice-based diet, the diagnosis would likely be Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a form of Beriberi common in alcoholics due to poor nutrient absorption and storage.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'rice eater's disease'. This is a specific historical name for a condition.
This is a factual recall question that links a common name to a specific medical condition.
Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of vitamin deficiencies and their causes.
Recall or deduce the dietary cause associated with each disease: Rickets (Vitamin D/sunlight), Scurvy (Vitamin C/fruits), Pellagra (Niacin/corn).
Beriberi is famously linked to thiamine deficiency from polished rice, which directly matches the question's description.
Therefore, select Beriberi as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q77E_KmCHrwmZV1kYit5xf

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 153-155

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 734-736

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 108-110

Practise the full UPRVUNL - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.