Infectious diseases: COVID-19 steroid use: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Infectious diseases: COVID-19 steroid use

Sample item

A patient with COVID-19 has SpO2 of 88 percent on room air requiring supplemental oxygen. Which drug has shown a mortality benefit in this group?

AHydroxychloroquineBIvermectinCAzithromycinDDexamethasone

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Dexamethasone

In patients with COVID-19 who need oxygen or ventilation, dexamethasone 6 mg daily for up to 10 days reduces mortality in the RECOVERY trial. It is not beneficial in those without oxygen requirement. Hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin and azithromycin have not shown mortality benefit.

Option by option

A. Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine did not improve outcomes.
B. Ivermectin
Ivermectin lacks proven benefit.
C. Azithromycin
Azithromycin is not beneficial for viral illness.
D. Dexamethasone (correct)
Correct. Dexamethasone reduces mortality in hypoxaemic patients.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Dexamethasone. In patients with COVID-19 who need oxygen or ventilation, dexamethasone 6 mg daily for up to 10 days reduces mortality in the RECOVERY trial.

Why is "Hydroxychloroquine" not the answer?

Hydroxychloroquine did not improve outcomes.

Why is "Ivermectin" not the answer?

Ivermectin lacks proven benefit.

Why is "Azithromycin" not the answer?

Azithromycin is not beneficial for viral illness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious diseases: COVID-19 steroid use in General Medicine. It is not beneficial in those without oxygen requirement. Hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin and azithromycin have not shown mortality benefit.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Infectious diseases: COVID-19 steroid use?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.