Question

If the mother does not get adequate amount of iodine during pregnancy, which disease can the child suffer from after birth?

• A. Cretinism
• B. Kwashiorkor
• C. Night blindness
• D. Goitre

Hint:

Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production. Deficiency during pregnancy can lead to severe developmental disorders in infants such as cretinism, which affects both mental and physical growth.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Role of iodine in the human body.
Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces important hormones such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which regulate metabolism, growth, and development of the body. During pregnancy, these hormones are extremely important for the proper development of the baby's brain and nervous system.
Step 2: Effect of iodine deficiency during pregnancy.
If a pregnant woman does not consume an adequate amount of iodine, the fetus cannot produce sufficient thyroid hormones. This leads to improper development of the brain and body of the baby. As a result, the child may suffer from a condition called cretinism, which is characterized by severe mental retardation, stunted physical growth, and developmental abnormalities after birth.
Step 3: Analysis of the options.

• (A) Cretinism: Correct. It occurs in infants due to iodine deficiency during pregnancy and results in impaired mental and physical development.
• (B) Kwashiorkor: Incorrect. This disease is caused by severe protein deficiency, not iodine deficiency.
• (C) Night blindness: Incorrect. This condition occurs due to deficiency of vitamin A.
• (D) Goitre: Incorrect in this context. Goitre is swelling of the thyroid gland usually seen in adults due to iodine deficiency, but the disease affecting newborns due to maternal iodine deficiency is cretinism.

Step 4: Conclusion.
Thus, if a pregnant woman does not receive enough iodine, the child may develop cretinism after birth due to improper thyroid hormone production and impaired brain development.
Final Answer: Cretinism.