Substance use: inhalants: practice question

A Psychiatry 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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Psychiatry · Substance use: inhalants

Sample item

A 14-year-old boy found with a rag soaked in solvent has perioral rash, slurred speech and euphoria. What serious risk is associated with inhalant misuse?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrhythmia

Inhalants such as toluene, glue and petrol cause euphoria, dizziness and ataxia, a perioral rash and, rarely, fatal arrhythmia, called sudden sniffing death, which is sensitised by catecholamines. Chronic use leads to neurotoxicity and renal and hepatic damage. They are common among street children in India.

Option by option

  • A. Delirium tremens after 3 days

    Delirium tremens is an alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

  • B. Opioid-type respiratory depression with miosis

    Miosis with respiratory depression is typical of opioids.

  • C. Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrhythmia (correct)

    Correct. Arrhythmia and sudden death can occur even on first use.

  • D. Serotonin syndrome

    Serotonin syndrome follows serotonergic drugs.

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 Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrhythmia. Inhalants such as toluene, glue and petrol cause euphoria, dizziness and ataxia, a perioral rash and, rarely, fatal arrhythmia, called sudden sniffing death, which is sensitised by catecholamines.

Why is "Delirium tremens after 3 days" not the answer?

Delirium tremens is an alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Why is "Opioid-type respiratory depression with miosis" not the answer?

Miosis with respiratory depression is typical of opioids.

Why is "Serotonin syndrome" not the answer?

Serotonin syndrome follows serotonergic drugs.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: inhalants in Psychiatry. Chronic use leads to neurotoxicity and renal and hepatic damage. They are common among street children in India.

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 Substance use: inhalants?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry 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.