Respiratory medicine: asthma: 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 · Respiratory medicine: asthma

Sample item

Which feature in an acute asthma attack indicates life-threatening severity?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Silent chest with exhaustion

A quiet or silent chest in a tiring patient indicates critically poor airflow and needs emergency management. Audible wheeze can diminish as obstruction worsens.

Option by option

  • A. Peak flow above 80 percent predicted

    A high peak flow argues against severe obstruction.

  • B. Silent chest with exhaustion (correct)

    Correct. Minimal air entry is an ominous sign.

  • C. Mild tachycardia after salbutamol

    Beta-agonists can cause modest tachycardia.

  • D. Wheeze heard only on expiration

    Mild wheeze alone is not life-threatening.

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 B, Silent chest with exhaustion. A quiet or silent chest in a tiring patient indicates critically poor airflow and needs emergency management.

Why is "Peak flow above 80 percent predicted" not the answer?

A high peak flow argues against severe obstruction.

Why is "Mild tachycardia after salbutamol" not the answer?

Beta-agonists can cause modest tachycardia.

Why is "Wheeze heard only on expiration" not the answer?

Mild wheeze alone is not life-threatening.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory medicine: asthma in General Medicine. Audible wheeze can diminish as obstruction worsens.

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 Respiratory medicine: asthma?

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.