Biliary atresia in infancy is most frequently associated with which condition?

• A. Fat malabsorption
• B. Chylothorax
• C. Zinc deficiency
• D. Essential fatty acid deficiency

Answer: (A)

Biliary atresia causes cholestasis, blocking bile from entering the intestine. Without bile, fats aren’t emulsified well, so fat digestion and absorption drop, leading to fat malabsorption (steatorrhea) in infancy. This fat-malabsorption tendency is the most direct and common consequence of the condition. While zinc deficiency or essential fatty acid deficiency can occur with prolonged malabsorption, and chylothorax is unrelated to biliary disease, the primary and most characteristic issue here is fat malabsorption.