A 3-year-old male with dry eyes, photophobia, and poor dietary habits presents with dry scaly skin and conjunctival plaques. What is the likely diagnosis?

The symptoms presented in this case, including dry eyes, photophobia, dry scaly skin, and conjunctival plaques, are indicative of a Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A plays a critical role in maintaining healthy vision, skin integrity, and proper immune function. The dry eyes and photophobia suggest issues with the conjunctiva and cornea, which are frequently seen in Vitamin A deficiency and can lead to xerophthalmia, a condition characterized by dryness of the eye due to inadequate tear production.

The presence of scaly skin can also be attributed to a deficiency in Vitamin A, as it is involved in the maintenance and repair of epithelial tissues. Conjunctival plaques, known as Bitot spots, are commonly associated with severe Vitamin A deficiency and reflect superficial keratinization on the conjunctival surface. This combination of symptoms strongly supports the diagnosis of Vitamin A deficiency over other conditions.

Malnutrition syndrome could encompass a broader range of nutritional deficiencies but is less specific than Vitamin A deficiency for the specific symptoms observed. Other vitamin deficiencies, such as Vitamin D, typically present with different clinical signs, such as rickets, and would not explain the ocular symptoms. Iron deficiency anemia primarily affects blood and can cause fatigue and pallor but does not relate to the ocular