Biology

Deficiency Diseases and Disorders

722 Questions

Deficiency diseases and disorders are caused by a lack of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in the diet or environment. This includes conditions like anemia, goitre, and night blindness. Practice these questions to prepare for general science exams.

Vitamin deficiency symptomsMineral deficiency disordersMalnutrition conceptsHormonal and specific diseases

Deficiency Diseases and Disorders Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following question by selecting the most appropriate option.

Mira and Divya are young girls. Mira likes to eat samosas, cutlets and bread. Divya, on the other hand, takes an iron deficient diet. Which of the following disorders are Mira and Divya likely to suffer from, respectively?

  1. Obesity and scurvy

  2. Scurvy and anaemia

  3. Anaemia and night blindness

  4. Obesity and anaemia
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Mira's diet high in fried snacks and refined carbohydrates (samosas, cutlets, bread) is likely to cause obesity due to excessive calorie intake. Divya's iron-deficient diet lacks essential minerals needed for hemoglobin production, which can lead to anaemia.

Multiple choice

A patient advised to take citrus fruits may be suffering from

  1. pellagra

  2. cheilosis

  3. anaemia

  4. scurvy

  5. night blindness
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

It is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C,  which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. Citrus fruits are given for the deficiency of vitamin C.

Multiple choice

Deficiency of thyroxin causes

  1. goitre

  2. night blindedness

  3. beri beri

  4. scurvy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A goitre is a swelling of the neck or larynx resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland (thyromegaly), associated with a thyroid gland that is not functioning properly. The main reason is deficiency of iodine in the diet which is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is caused due to the deficiency of vitamin B3?

  1. Pellagra

  2. Macrocytic anemia

  3. Ariboflavinosis

  4. Beri-Beri

  5. NA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Deficiency of vitamin B3 causes pellagra. Symptoms of pellagra include dermatitis, weakness, mental confusion and diarrhea. Pellagra may lead to dementia and death in some cases. Hence, it is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Beri-Beri is caused due to the deficiency of

  1. vitamin B1

  2. vitamin C

  3. vitamin B3

  4. vitamin A

  5. NA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Deficiency of Vitamin B1 will cause Beri-Beri. Symptoms of Beri-Beri include weight loss, weakness and pain in the limbs. Edema (swelling of bodily tissues) is very common. Many patients can be treated by thiamine. It is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Deficiency of vitamin D causes a disease ‘X’. Characteristics of this disease are softening of bones, curving of legs, muscle weakness, bone fragility and increased risk for fractures. What is the name of the disease?

  1. Scurvy

  2. Beri-Beri

  3. Night blindness

  4. Osteomalacia

  5. NA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Osteomalacia is a disease in adults that results from vitamin D deficiency. Characteristics of this disease are softening of bones, curving of legs, muscle weakness, bone fragility and increased risk for fractures. Hence, it is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the cause of anaemia?

  1. Excessive intake of iron

  2. Deficiency of iron

  3. Excessive intake of vitamins

  4. Deficiency of vitamins
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Anaemia refers to low haemoglobin/blood level in the body which occurs when we do not take enough iron in our diet. This is because iron forms haemoglobin, which is a major component of our blood.