Paediatric surgery: rectal prolapse in children: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Paediatric surgery: rectal prolapse in children

Sample item

A 3-year-old has repeated mucosal rectal prolapse during defecation. Which condition should be excluded, and what is the usual outcome?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Cystic fibrosis; most resolve spontaneously with conservative treatment

Rectal prolapse in children is usually self-limiting by age 4 to 5 and treated by correcting constipation and training toileting. Cystic fibrosis should be excluded with a sweat test, and other causes are chronic diarrhoea, malnutrition and neurological problems. Surgery is for persistent cases.

Option by option

  • A. Colonic polyp; emergency resection

    Polyps may be a lead point but do not explain recurrent prolapse in this setting.

  • B. Cystic fibrosis; most resolve spontaneously with conservative treatment (correct)

    Correct. Exclude cystic fibrosis and manage conservatively.

  • C. Crohn disease; colectomy

    Colectomy is not indicated.

  • D. Hirschsprung disease; immediate surgery

    Hirschsprung disease does not typically cause prolapse as the main feature.

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 General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Cystic fibrosis; most resolve spontaneously with conservative treatment. Rectal prolapse in children is usually self-limiting by age 4 to 5 and treated by correcting constipation and training toileting.

Why is "Colonic polyp; emergency resection" not the answer?

Polyps may be a lead point but do not explain recurrent prolapse in this setting.

Why is "Crohn disease; colectomy" not the answer?

Colectomy is not indicated.

Why is "Hirschsprung disease; immediate surgery" not the answer?

Hirschsprung disease does not typically cause prolapse as the main feature.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery: rectal prolapse in children in General Surgery. Cystic fibrosis should be excluded with a sweat test, and other causes are chronic diarrhoea, malnutrition and neurological problems. Surgery is for persistent cases.

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 surgery: rectal prolapse in children?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.