Bitot's spots in a 5-year-old child indicate which nutritional deficiency, and at which WHO grade of xerophthalmia are they classified?
- A Vitamin A deficiency; Grade X1B ✓
- B Vitamin A deficiency; Grade X2
- C Zinc deficiency; Grade X1A
- D Vitamin E deficiency; Grade X3A
Correct answer: A. Vitamin A deficiency; Grade X1B
Explanation
Bitot's spots are triangular, foamy, silvery-white, dry areas on the bulbar conjunctiva (most often temporal) due to keratinized epithelium, pathognomonic of Vitamin A deficiency. WHO classifies them as Grade X1B xerophthalmia. The full WHO classification is: XN (night blindness), X1A (conjunctival xerosis), X1B (Bitot's spots), X2 (corneal xerosis), X3A (corneal ulceration/keratomalacia <1/3 cornea), X3B (keratomalacia ≥1/3 cornea), XS (corneal scar), XF (xerophthalmic fundus). X1B is specifically Bitot's spots.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.