Paediatric infections: plan C dehydration: 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 · Paediatric infections: plan C dehydration

Sample item

A 3-year-old with watery diarrhoea is lethargic, has sunken eyes and cannot drink. What is the correct fluid regimen under WHO Plan C?

AORS 75 mL/kg over 4 hours onlyBRinger lactate 30 mL/kg in 30 minutes, then 70 mL/kg over 2.5 hoursCNormal saline 10 mL/kg over 6 hoursDRinger lactate 100 mL/kg over 24 hours

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Ringer lactate 30 mL/kg in 30 minutes, then 70 mL/kg over 2.5 hours

For severe dehydration in children older than 12 months, give 30 mL/kg of Ringer lactate or normal saline in 30 minutes then 70 mL/kg over 2.5 hours. Infants get 30 mL/kg over 1 hour then 70 mL/kg over 5 hours.

Option by option

A. ORS 75 mL/kg over 4 hours only
ORS alone is for some dehydration and is not adequate for a child who cannot drink.
B. Ringer lactate 30 mL/kg in 30 minutes, then 70 mL/kg over 2.5 hours (correct)
Correct. This is the Plan C regimen for older children.
C. Normal saline 10 mL/kg over 6 hours
10 mL/kg is too small a volume.
D. Ringer lactate 100 mL/kg over 24 hours
A slow infusion would not correct shock quickly.

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 Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, Ringer lactate 30 mL/kg in 30 minutes, then 70 mL/kg over 2.5 hours. For severe dehydration in children older than 12 months, give 30 mL/kg of Ringer lactate or normal saline in 30 minutes then 70 mL/kg over 2.

Why is "ORS 75 mL/kg over 4 hours only" not the answer?

ORS alone is for some dehydration and is not adequate for a child who cannot drink.

Why is "Normal saline 10 mL/kg over 6 hours" not the answer?

10 mL/kg is too small a volume.

Why is "Ringer lactate 100 mL/kg over 24 hours" not the answer?

A slow infusion would not correct shock quickly.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric infections: plan C dehydration in Pediatrics. 5 hours. Infants get 30 mL/kg over 1 hour then 70 mL/kg over 5 hours.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Paediatric infections: plan C dehydration?

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.