Neonatology: ABO incompatibility: practice question

A Pediatrics 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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Pediatrics · Neonatology: ABO incompatibility

Sample item

A mother with O positive blood delivers a term baby with A positive blood who is jaundiced at 20 hours. The direct Coombs test is weakly positive and the smear shows spherocytes. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. ABO haemolytic disease of the newborn

ABO incompatibility occurs when an O mother has an A or B baby. It gives mild to moderate haemolysis with spherocytes and a weakly positive direct Coombs test and can affect the first pregnancy.

Option by option

  • A. ABO haemolytic disease of the newborn (correct)

    Correct. This is the typical picture of ABO disease.

  • B. Hereditary elliptocytosis

    Elliptocytes, not spherocytes, define hereditary elliptocytosis.

  • C. G6PD deficiency

    G6PD deficiency has a negative Coombs test and bite cells.

  • D. Rh haemolytic disease

    Rh disease gives a strongly positive Coombs test and more severe anaemia.

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.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, ABO haemolytic disease of the newborn. ABO incompatibility occurs when an O mother has an A or B baby.

Why is "Hereditary elliptocytosis" not the answer?

Elliptocytes, not spherocytes, define hereditary elliptocytosis.

Why is "G6PD deficiency" not the answer?

G6PD deficiency has a negative Coombs test and bite cells.

Why is "Rh haemolytic disease" not the answer?

Rh disease gives a strongly positive Coombs test and more severe anaemia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neonatology: ABO incompatibility in Pediatrics. It gives mild to moderate haemolysis with spherocytes and a weakly positive direct Coombs test and can affect the first pregnancy.

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 Neonatology: ABO incompatibility?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.