Paediatric infections: severe pneumonia management: 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: severe pneumonia management

Sample item

A 10-month-old has cough, fast breathing and lower chest indrawing but is alert, feeding well and has normal oxygen saturation. What is the current recommended management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Oral amoxicillin as an outpatient with close follow-up

Under updated WHO and Indian guidance, chest indrawing pneumonia without danger signs or hypoxia is treated with oral amoxicillin at home. Very severe pneumonia with danger signs or hypoxia needs admission and injectable antibiotics with oxygen.

Option by option

  • A. No antibiotic as it is viral

    Chest indrawing pneumonia needs antibiotics.

  • B. Oral amoxicillin as an outpatient with close follow-up (correct)

    Correct. Oral amoxicillin outpatient care is recommended for chest indrawing pneumonia.

  • C. Admit to ICU and ventilate

    ICU care is not needed for a well-appearing child.

  • D. Admit for IV benzylpenicillin always

    IV therapy and admission are for very severe disease.

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 B, Oral amoxicillin as an outpatient with close follow-up. Under updated WHO and Indian guidance, chest indrawing pneumonia without danger signs or hypoxia is treated with oral amoxicillin at home.

Why is "No antibiotic as it is viral" not the answer?

Chest indrawing pneumonia needs antibiotics.

Why is "Admit to ICU and ventilate" not the answer?

ICU care is not needed for a well-appearing child.

Why is "Admit for IV benzylpenicillin always" not the answer?

IV therapy and admission are for very severe disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric infections: severe pneumonia management in Pediatrics. Very severe pneumonia with danger signs or hypoxia needs admission and injectable antibiotics with oxygen.

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: severe pneumonia management?

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.