Iodine deficiency during the first trimester of pregnancy leads to the most severe consequence of:

• A Goitre in the newborn (neonatal goitre)
• B Myxedematous cretinism with hypothyroidism and short stature
• C Sub-clinical hypothyroidism correctable after birth with iodine supplementation
• D Neurological cretinism with deafness, spastic diplegia, and intellectual disability ✓

Explanation

Iodine deficiency in early pregnancy (first trimester) when fetal thyroid is non-functional leads to neurological cretinism — characterized by severe intellectual disability, deaf-mutism, spastic diplegia, and squint — due to maternal hypothyroxinemia affecting brain development. Myxedematous cretinism results from iodine deficiency later in pregnancy and postnatally. Neurological cretinism cannot be reversed with postnatal iodine.

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.