Which of the following diseases is caused by severe deficiency of vitamin D in adults?

NVS Staff Nurse - 2022

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2022

Explanation

Osteomalacia is a metabolic bone disease in adults characterized by the softening of bones.
The primary cause is inadequate bone mineralization resulting from a severe deficiency of activated vitamin D.
Vitamin D is crucial for absorbing calcium from the gastrointestinal tract and facilitating its deposition into the bone matrix.
Without sufficient vitamin D, bones become weak and are prone to pain, tenderness, and pathologic fractures.

Option A: Mononucleosis, often called 'mono', is a contagious viral illness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), not a nutritional deficiency.
Option B: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs and is unrelated to vitamin D levels.
Option C: Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, which is vital for good vision. It is typically associated with increased intraocular pressure, not a vitamin deficiency.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vitamin D Deficiency Disorders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in identifying at-risk populations for vitamin D deficiency, such as older adults, individuals with limited sun exposure, those with malabsorption syndromes (e.g., celiac disease), and people with chronic kidney or liver disease.
Patient education is a critical nursing intervention. This includes teaching about dietary sources of vitamin D (fortified milk, fatty fish), the importance of sensible sun exposure, and adherence to prescribed supplements.
What if the question asked about severe vitamin D deficiency in a child? The correct answer would be Rickets, which is characterized by defective mineralization at the growth plates, leading to classic skeletal deformities like bowed legs and a rachitic rosary.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of nutritional deficiencies.
First, identify the key components of the question: the cause ('severe deficiency of vitamin D') and the specific patient population ('adults').
Systematically evaluate each option to determine its cause.
Recall that Mononucleosis is viral and Tuberculosis is bacterial, eliminating them as possibilities.
Recognize that Glaucoma is an eye disease related to pressure and optic nerve damage, not a systemic bone disease.
This leaves Osteomalacia. Recall or deduce that Osteomalacia is the specific term for the adult form of bone softening due to vitamin D deficiency, distinguishing it from Rickets, which occurs in children.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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