Asphyxia: practice question

A Forensic 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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Forensic Medicine · Asphyxia

Sample item

Which finding is compatible with drowning but is not independently diagnostic?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Fine froth at mouth and nostrils

Fine froth may occur in drowning as fluid and air mix in airways, but diagnosis requires scene, autopsy, and toxicology correlation.

Option by option

  • A. Dry skin on both hands

    Dry hands do not exclude or prove drowning.

  • B. Fixed pupil size

    Pupil size is not a diagnostic drowning marker.

  • C. A healed surgical scar

    Scars are unrelated to mechanism of drowning.

  • D. Fine froth at mouth and nostrils (correct)

    Correct: froth is supportive but nonspecific evidence.

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 Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Fine froth at mouth and nostrils. Fine froth may occur in drowning as fluid and air mix in airways, but diagnosis requires scene, autopsy, and toxicology correlation.

Why is "Dry skin on both hands" not the answer?

Dry hands do not exclude or prove drowning.

Why is "Fixed pupil size" not the answer?

Pupil size is not a diagnostic drowning marker.

Why is "A healed surgical scar" not the answer?

Scars are unrelated to mechanism of drowning.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxia in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: froth is supportive but nonspecific evidence.

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 Asphyxia?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic 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.