Paediatric infections: tubercular meningitis staging: 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: tubercular meningitis staging

Sample item

A child with TB meningitis is drowsy with neck stiffness and cranial nerve palsy but no coma. How is this staged by the BMRC system, and what is the adjunctive therapy?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Stage II; corticosteroids added to antitubercular drugs

BMRC stage I is early with no neurological deficit, stage II has drowsiness, neck stiffness or cranial nerve palsy, and stage III has coma or severe deficits. Corticosteroids reduce mortality and inflammation and are added in all stages.

Option by option

  • A. Stage III; surgery only

    Stage III involves coma.

  • B. Stage II; corticosteroids added to antitubercular drugs (correct)

    Correct. Drowsiness with focal signs is stage II and steroids are used.

  • C. Stage I; no steroids

    Stage I has no focal deficit or altered sensorium.

  • D. Stage IV; observation

    There is no stage IV in the BMRC system.

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, Stage II; corticosteroids added to antitubercular drugs. BMRC stage I is early with no neurological deficit, stage II has drowsiness, neck stiffness or cranial nerve palsy, and stage III has coma or severe deficits.

Why is "Stage III; surgery only" not the answer?

Stage III involves coma.

Why is "Stage I; no steroids" not the answer?

Stage I has no focal deficit or altered sensorium.

Why is "Stage IV; observation" not the answer?

There is no stage IV in the BMRC system.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric infections: tubercular meningitis staging in Pediatrics. Corticosteroids reduce mortality and inflammation and are added in all stages.

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 Paediatric infections: tubercular meningitis staging?

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.