Neonatology: sepsis: practice question

A Pediatrics 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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Pediatrics · Neonatology: sepsis

Sample item

A 4-day-old has poor feeding, temperature instability, lethargy, and apnea. What is the appropriate approach?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Treat as possible neonatal sepsis with urgent assessment and antibiotics after cultures when feasible

Neonatal sepsis often presents nonspecifically with feeding difficulty, lethargy, temperature instability, or apnea. Prompt cultures and empiric antimicrobial treatment are required when clinical suspicion is significant.

Option by option

  • A. Treat as possible neonatal sepsis with urgent assessment and antibiotics after cultures when feasible (correct)

    Correct. These subtle signs can represent life-threatening neonatal infection.

  • B. Assume normal colic

    Colic does not cause apnea and temperature instability.

  • C. Give an antidiarrheal

    Antidiarrheals have no role in a potentially septic neonate.

  • D. Wait for a rash before investigating

    Waiting for a rash delays essential treatment.

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 Pediatrics questions

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Treat as possible neonatal sepsis with urgent assessment and antibiotics after cultures when feasible. Neonatal sepsis often presents nonspecifically with feeding difficulty, lethargy, temperature instability, or apnea.

Why is "Assume normal colic" not the answer?

Colic does not cause apnea and temperature instability.

Why is "Give an antidiarrheal" not the answer?

Antidiarrheals have no role in a potentially septic neonate.

Why is "Wait for a rash before investigating" not the answer?

Waiting for a rash delays essential treatment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neonatology: sepsis in Pediatrics. Prompt cultures and empiric antimicrobial treatment are required when clinical suspicion is significant.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Neonatology: sepsis?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.