Nose: nasal vestibulitis treatment: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Nose: nasal vestibulitis treatment

Sample item

A child has a tender, red, crusted swelling at the tip of the nose after picking, with a pustule in the vestibule. What is the appropriate treatment and advice?

ATopical mupirocin or oral anti-staphylococcal antibiotics, with advice not to squeeze or pickBSqueezing the pustule to drain itCReassurance without treatmentDNasal packing

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Topical mupirocin or oral anti-staphylococcal antibiotics, with advice not to squeeze or pick

Vestibulitis and nasal furuncle are staphylococcal infections of hair follicles. Squeezing can spread infection through the angular and ophthalmic veins to the cavernous sinus, the danger area of the face. Topical mupirocin, warm compresses and oral flucloxacillin for spreading infection are used.

Option by option

A. Topical mupirocin or oral anti-staphylococcal antibiotics, with advice not to squeeze or pick (correct)
Correct. Anti-staphylococcal treatment and avoiding manipulation are key.
B. Squeezing the pustule to drain it
Squeezing risks retrograde spread and cavernous sinus thrombosis.
C. Reassurance without treatment
Untreated infection can spread.
D. Nasal packing
Packing does not treat a skin infection.

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.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Topical mupirocin or oral anti-staphylococcal antibiotics, with advice not to squeeze or pick. Vestibulitis and nasal furuncle are staphylococcal infections of hair follicles.

Why is "Squeezing the pustule to drain it" not the answer?

Squeezing risks retrograde spread and cavernous sinus thrombosis.

Why is "Reassurance without treatment" not the answer?

Untreated infection can spread.

Why is "Nasal packing" not the answer?

Packing does not treat a skin infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose: nasal vestibulitis treatment in ENT. Squeezing can spread infection through the angular and ophthalmic veins to the cavernous sinus, the danger area of the face. Topical mupirocin, warm compresses and oral flucloxacillin for spreading infection are used.

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 Nose: nasal vestibulitis treatment?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.