What condition in children is indicated by vision changes, Bitot spots, and poor bone growth?

Prepare for the PAEA Pediatrics EOR Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with the symptoms mentioned in the question: vision changes, Bitot spots, and poor bone growth.

Vision changes can manifest as night blindness, which is a classic sign of vitamin A deficiency due to the vitamin's essential role in maintaining healthy vision, particularly in low-light conditions. Bitot spots are a specific ocular manifestation that appear as foamy, white patches on the conjunctiva and are indicative of a deficiency in vitamin A. Additionally, inadequate levels of vitamin A can lead to impaired bone growth and turnover, contributing to poor bone development in children.

The presence of these signs clearly points to vitamin A deficiency as the underlying condition. Other deficiencies, such as those of vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, have separate sets of symptoms and do not present with the same combination of findings as seen in vitamin A deficiency. For instance, vitamin C deficiency typically leads to scurvy, characterized by symptoms like bleeding gums and joint pain, while vitamin D deficiency is more commonly associated with rickets and skeletal deformities rather than Bitot spots or specific vision changes.

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