While working in an impoverished area of the world you see a

While working in an impoverished area of the world, you see a young patient with very dry bumpy skin. This patient complains off dry eyes, diarrhea, joint pain and \"getting sick a lot, \" especially colds and coughs. During the exam, there is a loss of electric power and soon you realize that your young patient cannot see you in the dim light. Name the vitamin deficiency you might expect and briefly explain how this happen. Vitamin: _________ Explanation:

Solution

Vitamin A is deficient in the patient. Dry eyes(xerophthalmia) , rough skin and faiure to adapt to darkness indicates vit A deficiency. Rhodopsin is essential for night vision or dim light vision. Retinal, the active form of vit A deficiency decreases Rhodopsin availability which results in poor night vision.