Endocrinology: practice question

A General Medicine 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 Medicine · Endocrinology

Sample item

Which treatment is given first when adrenal crisis is suspected in a severely unwell patient?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Intravenous hydrocortisone with fluid resuscitation

Suspected adrenal crisis is a medical emergency treated immediately with parenteral hydrocortisone and intravenous fluids while blood is drawn and precipitating illness is investigated; treatment must not await confirmation.

Option by option

  • A. Oral levothyroxine alone

    Levothyroxine treats hypothyroidism, not acute adrenal insufficiency.

  • B. Fluid restriction and diuretics

    Restricting fluid can worsen hypotension in adrenal crisis.

  • C. Intravenous hydrocortisone with fluid resuscitation (correct)

    Correct: steroids and fluids address cortisol deficiency and shock.

  • D. Insulin infusion without assessment

    Insulin alone could be harmful without identifying the metabolic problem.

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.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Intravenous hydrocortisone with fluid resuscitation. Suspected adrenal crisis is a medical emergency treated immediately with parenteral hydrocortisone and intravenous fluids while blood is drawn and precipitating illness is investigated; treatment must not await confirmation.

Why is "Oral levothyroxine alone" not the answer?

Levothyroxine treats hypothyroidism, not acute adrenal insufficiency.

Why is "Fluid restriction and diuretics" not the answer?

Restricting fluid can worsen hypotension in adrenal crisis.

Why is "Insulin infusion without assessment" not the answer?

Insulin alone could be harmful without identifying the metabolic problem.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrinology in General Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: steroids and fluids address cortisol deficiency and shock.

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 Endocrinology?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.