What is the primary nutritional deficiency responsible for Rickets in infants, characterized by craniotabes, rachitic rosary, widened wrist epiphyses, and bowing of the legs (genu varum)?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Vitamin D deficiency (impaired calcium-phosphate mineralization)
- Step 1: Nutritional rickets is caused by deficient vitamin D (or dietary calcium deficiency), leading to failure of osteoid mineralization at the epiphyseal growth plates.
- Step 2: It manifests with widened wrists, costochondral beading (rachitic rosary), delayed fontanelle closure, and lower extremity bowing upon weight-bearing.
Answer
Vitamin D deficiency (impaired calcium-phosphate mineralization).
Why not the others: 'Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy)' causes defective collagen synthesis presenting with bleeding gums, subperiosteal hemorrhages, and pseudoparalysis; 'Vitamin A deficiency' causes xerophthalmia, Bitot spots, and night blindness; 'Vitamin K deficiency' causes hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
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