Paediatric emergencies: meningococcal septicaemia: 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 emergencies: meningococcal septicaemia

Sample item

A 5-year-old has fever, rapidly spreading purpuric rash, hypotension and cold peripheries. What are the immediate management and the prophylaxis for close contacts?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ceftriaxone and early fluid resuscitation; rifampicin for close contacts

Meningococcal septicaemia with purpura fulminans is an emergency needing immediate parenteral ceftriaxone and aggressive fluids and inotropes. Close contacts receive chemoprophylaxis, usually rifampicin, ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone.

Option by option

  • A. Ceftriaxone and early fluid resuscitation; rifampicin for close contacts (correct)

    Correct. Early antibiotics and contact prophylaxis are standard.

  • B. Oral penicillin and observation; vaccination of contacts only

    Oral penicillin is inadequate and delays treatment.

  • C. Steroids alone; no prophylaxis

    Steroids alone do not treat the infection.

  • D. Aspirin; isolation only

    Aspirin has no role and isolation alone is insufficient.

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, Ceftriaxone and early fluid resuscitation; rifampicin for close contacts. Meningococcal septicaemia with purpura fulminans is an emergency needing immediate parenteral ceftriaxone and aggressive fluids and inotropes.

Why is "Oral penicillin and observation; vaccination of contacts only" not the answer?

Oral penicillin is inadequate and delays treatment.

Why is "Steroids alone; no prophylaxis" not the answer?

Steroids alone do not treat the infection.

Why is "Aspirin; isolation only" not the answer?

Aspirin has no role and isolation alone is insufficient.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric emergencies: meningococcal septicaemia in Pediatrics. Close contacts receive chemoprophylaxis, usually rifampicin, ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone.

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 emergencies: meningococcal septicaemia?

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.