Toxicology: organophosphates: 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 · Toxicology: organophosphates

Sample item

Which toxidrome is most consistent with organophosphate poisoning?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Miosis, bronchorrhea, bradycardia, and diarrhea

Organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic excess. Prominent bronchorrhea and bronchospasm are major immediate threats.

Option by option

  • A. Respiratory depression with pinpoint pupils only

    Opioids cause miosis and respiratory depression but not bronchorrhea and diarrhea.

  • B. Dry skin, mydriasis, and urinary retention

    Dryness and mydriasis suggest anticholinergic toxicity.

  • C. Miosis, bronchorrhea, bradycardia, and diarrhea (correct)

    Correct. This is the cholinergic toxidrome.

  • D. Hyperreflexia with clonus after serotonergic drugs

    Clonus and hyperreflexia suggest serotonin syndrome.

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.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Miosis, bronchorrhea, bradycardia, and diarrhea. Organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic excess.

Why is "Respiratory depression with pinpoint pupils only" not the answer?

Opioids cause miosis and respiratory depression but not bronchorrhea and diarrhea.

Why is "Dry skin, mydriasis, and urinary retention" not the answer?

Dryness and mydriasis suggest anticholinergic toxicity.

Why is "Hyperreflexia with clonus after serotonergic drugs" not the answer?

Clonus and hyperreflexia suggest serotonin syndrome.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: organophosphates in Forensic Medicine. Prominent bronchorrhea and bronchospasm are major immediate threats.

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 Toxicology: organophosphates?

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.