Question

The ‘blue baby’ syndrome results from

(a) excess of TDS (total dissolved solids)

(b) excess of chloride

(c) methaemoglobin

(d) excess of dissolved oxygen

Answer 1

ANSWER : METHAEMOGLOBIN

EXPLANANTION : Blue Baby Syndrome or Methemoglobinemia is caused by decreased ability of blood to carry oxygen, resulting in oxygen deficiency in different body parts.

The blue baby syndrome shows an incomplete wall between the ventricles (known as a ventricular septal defect), an aorta that sits over this defect so that its blood comes from both ventricles instead of just from the left (overriding aorta), a defective right ventricular outflow tract near the pulmonary valve that prevents full flow of blood to the lungs, a muscular right ventricle necessary to complete the extra work required to overcome that defect (right ventricular hypertrophy). ( SEE DIAGRAM)

Nitrate itself is not toxic to humans. Nitrate becomes a problem only when it is converted to nitrite in the human body, resulting in methemoglobinemia. Much of the ingested nitrate is absorbed before reaching the nitrate-reducing bacteria, which resides in the intestinal tract. Most of the ingested nitrate is excreted within 24 hours mainly through urine, as well as through feces and sweat. If nitrate is introduced directly into the colon, methemoglobinemia is readily produced. Nitrite produced from nitrate enters the bloodstream mainly through the upper gastrointestinal tract. Nitrate is converted to nitrite by intestinal bacteria, and nitrite acts as the oxidizing agent to form METHAEMOGLOBIN in the red blood cells.

DIAGRAM