Respiratory: epiglottitis: 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.

Try it

Pediatrics · Respiratory: epiglottitis

Sample item

A febrile child is drooling, sitting forward, has muffled voice, and inspiratory distress. What is the safest immediate principle?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Avoid upsetting airway examination and arrange expert airway management

Suspected epiglottitis is an airway emergency. Agitation and direct pharyngeal examination can precipitate complete obstruction, so the child should remain calm while experienced airway support is mobilized.

Option by option

  • A. Use a tongue depressor to inspect the throat immediately

    Direct inspection can trigger sudden airway obstruction.

  • B. Send home with cough syrup

    Cough syrup is unsafe and inadequate.

  • C. Force the child to lie flat

    Forcing supine positioning may worsen distress and airway compromise.

  • D. Avoid upsetting airway examination and arrange expert airway management (correct)

    Correct. Protecting the airway without provoking distress is paramount.

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 D, Avoid upsetting airway examination and arrange expert airway management. Suspected epiglottitis is an airway emergency.

Why is "Use a tongue depressor to inspect the throat immediately" not the answer?

Direct inspection can trigger sudden airway obstruction.

Why is "Send home with cough syrup" not the answer?

Cough syrup is unsafe and inadequate.

Why is "Force the child to lie flat" not the answer?

Forcing supine positioning may worsen distress and airway compromise.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory: epiglottitis in Pediatrics. Agitation and direct pharyngeal examination can precipitate complete obstruction, so the child should remain calm while experienced airway support is mobilized.

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 Respiratory: epiglottitis?

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.