What are symptoms of Itai-itai disease?

• A. Severe bone pain and fractures
• B. Nausea
• C. Shortness of breath
• D. Hair loss

Answer: (A)

Itai-itai disease is a cadmium-induced bone disease; the defining features come from cadmium damaging the kidneys and undermining bone mineralization. The most characteristic symptom is severe bone pain with a high risk of fractures, due to osteomalacia and osteoporosis from renal dysfunction and mineral loss. That’s why this option best fits the condition. Nausea, shortness of breath, and hair loss aren’t the hallmark signs of Itai-itai disease, though heavy metal exposure can cause a range of nonspecific symptoms; the key clue here is the intense bone pain and fractures. The disease was named after the painful bone symptoms patients described.