Question

A patient presented with diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia. Which of the following vitamin deficiencies would you suspect in this patient?

• A. Vitamin B3 deficiency
• B. Vitamin B1 deficiency
• C. Vitamin B6 deficiency
• D. Vitamin B12 deficiency

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

A patient presented with a classic triad of symptoms: diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia. This triad is indicative of a condition known as pellagra, which is caused by a deficiency in a specific vitamin. To determine which vitamin deficiency is responsible, we need to look at each vitamin option given:

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency typically leads to beriberi, and symptoms include weight loss, emotional disturbances, and impaired sensory perception.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin) deficiency is directly linked to pellagra, characterized by diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia. Therefore, this matches with the symptoms presented by the patient.
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) deficiency causes anemia, peripheral neuropathy, and seizures, but not the triad seen here.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency typically results in megaloblastic anemia and neurological issues, but not the symptoms of diarrhea or dermatitis.

Considering these options, the most likely deficiency causing the patient's symptoms of diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia is:

Vitamin B3 deficiency