Question

Which of the following is not a vitamin deficiency disease ?

• A. pellagra
• B. goitre
• C. keratomalacia
• D. xerophthalmia

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

goitre

Answer 2

Goitre is a swelling of the neck due the enlargement of the thyroid gland. This is due to lack of dietary iodine which is necessary for the production of thyroid hormone, therefore the gland enlarges in an attempt to increase the output of hormone. Pellagra is a nutritional disease due to deficiency of vitamin B (nicotinic add). Pellagra results in scaly skin, diarrhoea and depression. Keratomalacia is an eye disorder that leads to a dry cornea. One of its major cause is vitamin $A$ defidency. Xerophthalmia caused by severe vitamin $A$ defidency is described by pathological dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea. The conjunctiva becomes dry, thick and wrinkled. If untreated, it can lead to comeal ulceration and ultimately in blindness as a result of comeal damage.