Question:

Some small children aged about 2 to 3 years were showing slender legs and oedema. They also showed symptoms like a protruding belly, bulging eyes, and changes in skin and hair colour. According to you, which of the following could be the possible cause of these symptoms?

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Thin limbs with swollen belly and discoloured hair in a weaned child are signs of kwashiorkor.
Updated On: Nov 12, 2026
  • Deficiency of vitamin D.
  • Inadequate intake of protein.
  • Deposition of excess of fats.
  • Unavailability of a carbohydrate-rich diet.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
The symptoms are slender legs, oedema, protruding belly, bulging eyes and changes in skin and hair colour in a child of 2 to 3 years.

Step 2: Identify the disorder
These signs describe kwashiorkor, a protein-energy malnutrition seen after weaning.

Step 3: Find the cause
The diet may give enough calories but far too little protein.
Low blood proteins let fluid collect in the tissues (oedema), and muscle wasting makes the legs slender.

Step 4: Why the other options fail
Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, excess fat causes obesity, and lack of carbohydrates alone does not produce oedema.

Final Answer:
The cause is inadequate intake of protein. \[ \boxed{\text{(B) }\text{Inadequate intake of protein.}} \]
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