Medium
A child has thin arms and legs, a swollen belly and swelling of the feet (oedema), and his diet is rich in starch but very poor in protein. He is most likely suffering from a deficiency of:
Explanation
Explanation
Step 1: Collect the symptoms: thin limbs, swollen belly, oedema, and a diet low in protein.
Step 2: These are classic signs of kwashiorkor, a protein-deficiency disease seen in young children.
Step 3: Vitamin A deficiency causes night blindness; iodine deficiency causes goitre; iron deficiency causes anaemia. None of these gives swelling with a protein-poor diet.
Step 4: Prevention: include pulses, milk, eggs, soya and nuts in the daily diet.
Answer: Protein.
PRO TIP
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