Respiratory: foreign body aspiration: 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: foreign body aspiration

Sample item

A toddler suddenly coughs while eating peanuts and later has unilateral reduced breath sounds and localized wheeze. What is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Foreign body aspiration

Foreign-body aspiration often follows a sudden choking episode and may cause unilateral wheeze or reduced air entry. Bronchoscopy is used for diagnosis and removal when suspicion is significant.

Option by option

  • A. Viral bronchiolitis

    Bronchiolitis follows coryza and usually has bilateral diffuse signs.

  • B. Croup

    Croup produces upper-airway stridor and barking cough.

  • C. Bacterial pneumonia

    Pneumonia may cause focal signs but usually has fever and less abrupt choking history.

  • D. Foreign body aspiration (correct)

    Correct. Abrupt onset with unilateral signs is characteristic.

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, Foreign body aspiration. Foreign-body aspiration often follows a sudden choking episode and may cause unilateral wheeze or reduced air entry.

Why is "Viral bronchiolitis" not the answer?

Bronchiolitis follows coryza and usually has bilateral diffuse signs.

Why is "Croup" not the answer?

Croup produces upper-airway stridor and barking cough.

Why is "Bacterial pneumonia" not the answer?

Pneumonia may cause focal signs but usually has fever and less abrupt choking history.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory: foreign body aspiration in Pediatrics. Bronchoscopy is used for diagnosis and removal when suspicion is significant.

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: foreign body aspiration?

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.