Deficiency, Non-Contagious and Other Diseases

1. Night blindness is caused by the deficiency of

Night blindness is caused by the deficiency of

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Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Vitamin K
Vitamin B
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2017
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Night blindness is caused by the deficiency of Vitamin A.
Vitamin A is essential for the formation of rhodopsin, a pigment found in the rod cells of the retina that is crucial for vision in low light conditions. A deficiency leads to impaired night vision (nyctalopia).
Vitamin C deficiency causes Scurvy. Vitamin K deficiency can lead to blood clotting disorders. Deficiencies of various Vitamin B types cause conditions like Beriberi (B1), Pellagra (B3), anemia, etc.

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2. Which one of the following is a major effect of long term consumption

Which one of the following is a major effect of long term consumption of drinking water containing little (less than 0.5 ppm) or no fluoride ?

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Cavity of tooth
Erosion of nail
Deformation of bone
Mottling of tooth
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2017
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The correct option is A.
Fluoride in drinking water is crucial for maintaining dental health, particularly for strengthening tooth enamel and preventing cavities (dental caries). Long-term consumption of water with insufficient fluoride (less than 0.5 ppm, or no fluoride) leads to weaker enamel, making teeth more susceptible to acid attacks from bacteria and increasing the risk of cavities.
Options B, C, and D describe effects related to other factors or excessive fluoride intake. Erosion of nails (B) is not a known effect of fluoride levels in water. Deformation of bone (skeletal fluorosis) (C) and mottling of teeth (dental fluorosis) (D) are caused by *excessive* long-term consumption of fluoride, not insufficient amounts.

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3. Which of the following diseases are caused by the consumption of water

Which of the following diseases are caused by the consumption of water contaminated by mercury and nitrate ?

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Minamata disease and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis and Blue Baby Syndrome
Minamata disease and Blue Baby Syndrome
Osteoporosis and Minamata disease
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2017
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Consumption of water contaminated by mercury can cause Minamata disease, and contamination by nitrate can cause Blue Baby Syndrome.
Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. It was first discovered in Minamata, Japan, caused by the release of methylmercury into industrial wastewater. Blue Baby Syndrome (Methemoglobinemia) is caused by the consumption of nitrates, especially in infants. Nitrates are converted to nitrites, which interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin, causing a bluish discoloration of the skin.
Osteoporosis is a disease where bones become weak and brittle, typically linked to calcium and Vitamin D deficiency, hormonal changes, and aging, not directly caused by mercury or nitrate water contamination.

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4. An elderly person while trying to read a book at about 25 cm from the

An elderly person while trying to read a book at about 25 cm from the eyes finds the image appears blurred because of the decreasing effectiveness of the ciliary muscles and the loss of flexibility of the lens. This defect of the eyes is called

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myopia
astigmatism
hypermetropia
presbyopia
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2011
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The described eye defect is called presbyopia.
Presbyopia is a common age-related condition that reduces the eye’s ability to focus on close objects. It occurs because the lens of the eye hardens and loses flexibility, and the muscles surrounding the lens become less effective at changing the lens’s shape for focusing on near vision (a process called accommodation). This results in blurred vision when reading or doing other close-up tasks.
Myopia (nearsightedness) is difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. Astigmatism is a refractive error causing blurred vision at all distances due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. Hypermetropia (farsightedness) is difficulty seeing near objects clearly, often due to the eyeball being too short or the cornea being too flat, but presbyopia is specifically the age-related loss of accommodation.

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5. Adulteration of mustard oil has led to several outbreaks of Epidemic D

Adulteration of mustard oil has led to several outbreaks of Epidemic Dropsy in India. Which one of the following contaminant is responsible for it ?

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Automobile oil
Linseed oil
Argemone oil
Rapeseed oil
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
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Epidemic Dropsy is a clinical state resulting from consuming edible oils (most commonly mustard oil) that have been contaminated with Argemone oil. Argemone oil contains the toxic alkaloid sanguinarine, which is responsible for the symptoms of epidemic dropsy, including edema (swelling), skin lesions, gastrointestinal symptoms, and even heart failure. The contamination occurs when seeds of the Argemone mexicana plant, which visually resemble mustard seeds, are accidentally or intentionally mixed with mustard seeds.
– Epidemic Dropsy is caused by the consumption of edible oil contaminated with Argemone oil.
– The toxic substance in Argemone oil is sanguinarine.
Argemone mexicana is also known as Mexican poppy or prickly poppy. The seeds are small, black, and round, similar to mustard seeds, making accidental contamination during harvesting or processing possible.

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6. Which one among the following diseases is caused due to deficiency of

Which one among the following diseases is caused due to deficiency of Vitamin D in humans ?

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Beriberi
Scurvy
Rickets
Pneumonia
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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Beriberi is a disease caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine). Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). Rickets is a condition in children caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate, leading to soft and weak bones. Osteomalacia is the equivalent condition in adults, primarily caused by Vitamin D deficiency. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, usually caused by bacteria or viruses, not a vitamin deficiency. Therefore, Rickets is caused by Vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphate absorption and bone health. Deficiency can lead to impaired bone mineralization, resulting in Rickets in children and Osteomalacia in adults.
Vitamin D can be obtained from certain foods (fatty fish, fortified foods) and is synthesized in the skin upon exposure to sunlight. Sunlight exposure is a significant source of Vitamin D for many people.

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7. Intake of which one of the following food components should be minimiz

Intake of which one of the following food components should be minimized by patients having Gouty Arthritis due to elevated serum uric acid level ?

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Food fibres
Nucleic acids
Lipids
Carbohydrates
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2017
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The correct answer is B) Nucleic acids.
Gouty arthritis is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, which leads to the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Uric acid is a metabolic breakdown product of purines. Purines are building blocks of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Foods high in purines (e.g., red meat, organ meats, seafood, certain vegetables like asparagus and spinach, and alcohol) contribute to higher uric acid levels. Therefore, minimizing the intake of foods rich in purines, which are directly linked to the metabolism of nucleic acids, is a key dietary recommendation for patients with gout. While overall diet balance is important, purine restriction is specifically targeted at the root cause of hyperuricemia related to diet.

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8. Statement I : Too much salt content in diet could be one of the reason

Statement I : Too much salt content in diet could be one of the reasons for kidney failure.
Statement II : High salt may cause high blood pressure.

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Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
Statement I is true but Statement II is false
Statement I is false but Statement II is true
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2016
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Statement I: Too much salt content in diet could be one of the reasons for kidney failure. (True)
Statement II: High salt may cause high blood pressure. (True)
Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.
– High dietary salt intake is a major risk factor for hypertension (high blood pressure).
– High blood pressure is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and, eventually, kidney failure.
– Statement II describes the causal link between high salt intake and high blood pressure. Statement I indicates a possible consequence of high salt intake.
– Since high blood pressure caused by high salt is a significant contributor to kidney damage, Statement II provides the mechanism by which Statement I can be true. Therefore, Statement II correctly explains one way too much salt can lead to kidney failure.

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9. Which one among the following diseases is characteristically and speci

Which one among the following diseases is characteristically and specifically linked to asbestosis ?

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Liver fibrosis
Lung fibrosis
Mesothelioma
Pleural effusion
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
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Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is characteristically and specifically linked to asbestos exposure.
Asbestos exposure is a well-established cause of several respiratory and pleural diseases, including asbestosis (a type of lung fibrosis), lung cancer, pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and mesothelioma. While asbestosis is the fibrotic disease caused by asbestos, mesothelioma is a distinct malignancy that is particularly strongly and specifically associated with asbestos exposure compared to other causes.
Mesothelioma primarily affects the lining of the lungs (pleura), but can also occur in the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum), heart (pericardium), or testes. There is a long latency period, often decades, between asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma. Liver fibrosis has different causes (e.g., viral hepatitis, alcohol). Pleural effusion can have many causes, including but not limited to asbestos exposure. While asbestos causes lung fibrosis (asbestosis), mesothelioma is considered the most specific and characteristic *malignancy* linked to it.

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10. Deficiency of fluoride leads to which one of the following health

Deficiency of fluoride leads to which one of the following health problems?

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Tooth caries
Mottling of tooth
Bending of bones
Stiffening of joints
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2016
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Fluoride plays a crucial role in dental health. It strengthens tooth enamel by incorporating into the crystal structure, forming fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid dissolution than hydroxyapatite.
A deficiency of fluoride weakens tooth enamel, making teeth more susceptible to demineralization by acids produced by bacteria in the mouth. This process leads to the formation of cavities, known as tooth caries or tooth decay.
Mottling of teeth (dental fluorosis) is caused by *excessive* intake of fluoride during tooth development. Bending of bones (rickets) is typically due to Vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate deficiency. Stiffening of joints can be caused by various conditions like arthritis.

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