MCQ
Malnutrition — undernutrition, overnutrition, assessment and management MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers
Solve 20 Malnutrition — undernutrition, overnutrition, assessment and management questions for RAS/RPSC preparation.
Practice questions
Q1Match the child undernutrition indicator with its correct meaning: 1. Stunting 2. Wasting 3. Underweight A. Low weight-for-height B. Low weight-for-age C. Low height-for-age Which matching is correct?
Stunting means low height-for-age and points to chronic or long-term undernutrition. Wasting means low weight-for-height and usually reflects acute undernutrition or recent weight loss. Underweight means low weight-for-age, so it is affected by both stunting and wasting.
Q2Consider the following statements about child undernutrition: 1. Stunting is low height-for-age and usually reflects chronic or long-term undernutrition. 2. Wasting is low weight-for-height and usually reflects acute undernutrition. 3. Underweight is low weight-for-age and can reflect stunting, wasting, or both. Which of the statements are correct?
All three statements are correct. Stunting uses height-for-age and indicates chronic or long-term undernutrition, whereas wasting uses weight-for-height and indicates acute undernutrition. Underweight uses weight-for-age and is a composite indicator that may result from stunting, wasting, or both.
Q3Which one of the following statements about severe acute malnutrition in children aged 6–59 months is incorrect?
Option C is incorrect because an alert, clinically stable child who has appetite may receive community-based care with close follow-up and appropriate feeding. Urgent facility referral is needed when medical complications or danger signs, such as poor appetite, persistent vomiting or severe dehydration, are present. Bilateral pitting oedema and the stated arm-circumference threshold are also valid criteria for severe acute malnutrition.
Q4Consider the following statements about assessment and management of severe acute malnutrition in children: 1. In a child aged 6-59 months, mid-upper arm circumference below 11.5 cm is a criterion for severe acute malnutrition. 2. Poor appetite or persistent vomiting in a child with severe acute malnutrition is a danger sign requiring urgent facility referral. 3. Sudden heavy feeding should begin immediately in a complicated case to accelerate catch-up growth. 4. After discharge, counselling on home feeding, hygiene, immunisation and follow-up helps prevent relapse. Which statements are correct?
Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct. A mid-upper arm circumference below 11.5 cm is a severe acute malnutrition criterion for children aged 6-59 months, and poor appetite or persistent vomiting calls for urgent facility referral. Statement 3 is incorrect because altered metabolism makes sudden heavy feeding unsafe; stabilisation comes first, followed by gradual transition to catch-up growth, while post-discharge counselling and follow-up help prevent relapse.
Q5Match List I with List II and select the correct code. List I (Indicator or finding) 1. Stunting 2. Wasting 3. Underweight 4. Growth faltering List II (Measurement or interpretation) a. Low weight-for-age b. A flat or falling growth curve over time c. Low height-for-age d. Low weight-for-height
Stunting is low height-for-age, wasting is low weight-for-height, and underweight is low weight-for-age. Growth faltering is detected by tracking the child over time and noticing a flat or falling growth curve, rather than by relying only on one isolated weight. Therefore the correct sequence is 1-c, 2-d, 3-a and 4-b.
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6Which child undernutrition indicator represents low weight-for-age and can be affected by both stunting and wasting?
7Match List I with List II and select the correct code. List I 1. Stunting 2. Wasting 3. Underweight 4. Overnutrition List II P. Low height-for-age Q. Low weight-for-height R. Low weight-for-age; a composite indicator S. Excess energy intake relative to expenditure
8Consider the following statements about acute malnutrition in children aged 6-59 months: Statement 1: A mid-upper arm circumference from 11.5 cm to below 12.5 cm is commonly used to screen for moderate acute malnutrition. Statement 2: Bilateral pitting oedema alone can place a child in the severe acute malnutrition category even if body weight does not appear very low. Which of the following is correct?
9For a child aged 6–59 months, which measurement of mid-upper arm circumference by itself meets a criterion for severe acute malnutrition?
10Which option correctly states both the measurement and the usual interpretation of a child-undernutrition indicator?
11Assertion (A): Supplementary nutrition provided through ICDS should not replace the family’s usual diet. Reason (R): Its purpose is to bridge the gap between usual household intake and recommended intake. Choose the correct option.
12Match List I (situation) with List II (most appropriate management or follow-up action) for child nutrition care. List I 1. A 6–59-month-old child has severe acute malnutrition with poor appetite or medical danger signs. 2. A 6–59-month-old child has severe acute malnutrition but is alert, clinically stable, and has appetite. 3. A child’s growth curve is flat or falling, but no severe acute malnutrition danger sign is stated. 4. A child with complicated severe malnutrition has returned home after stabilisation at a treatment facility. List II a. Urgent facility referral and facility-based care b. Community-based care with appropriate feeding and close follow-up c. Check feeding, illness, hygiene, and household constraints; provide counselling and follow-up or referral as indicated d. Community monitoring to ensure weight gain and attendance at follow-up Choose the correct matching code.
13Consider the following two statements about supplementary nutrition under ICDS: 1. It is intended to bridge the gap between usual household intake and recommended intake. 2. It replaces the family diet, so growth monitoring and family counselling are unnecessary. Which option is correct?
14Which recommendation is appropriate for preventing or managing overnutrition in a child?
15Assertion (A): A child with severe acute malnutrition who has poor appetite, persistent vomiting, severe dehydration, lethargy or other danger signs should be urgently referred for facility-based care. Reason (R): Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres and similar units manage complicated severe acute malnutrition with medical treatment, careful feeding, monitoring and caregiver counselling. Which option is correct?