Toxicology: 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.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Toxicology

Sample item

A man bitten by a snake has bleeding gums, haematuria and persistent bleeding from the bite site. A bedside 20-minute whole blood clotting test shows non-clotting blood. Which type of venom is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Haemotoxic viper venom causing consumption coagulopathy

Viper venoms contain procoagulant enzymes that consume fibrinogen and clotting factors, producing incoagulable blood and bleeding. The 20-minute whole blood clotting test is a simple bedside indicator, and polyvalent anti-snake venom is the treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Cardiotoxic sea snake venom

    Sea snake venom is myotoxic, causing rhabdomyolysis.

  • B. Neurotoxic cobra venom

    Cobra venom is predominantly neurotoxic with ptosis and paralysis and local tissue necrosis.

  • C. Haemotoxic viper venom causing consumption coagulopathy (correct)

    Correct. Venom-induced consumption coagulopathy gives non-clotting blood.

  • D. Neurotoxic krait venom

    Krait venom is predominantly neurotoxic and causes paralysis with minimal local findings.

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 Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Haemotoxic viper venom causing consumption coagulopathy. Viper venoms contain procoagulant enzymes that consume fibrinogen and clotting factors, producing incoagulable blood and bleeding.

Why is "Cardiotoxic sea snake venom" not the answer?

Sea snake venom is myotoxic, causing rhabdomyolysis.

Why is "Neurotoxic cobra venom" not the answer?

Cobra venom is predominantly neurotoxic with ptosis and paralysis and local tissue necrosis.

Why is "Neurotoxic krait venom" not the answer?

Krait venom is predominantly neurotoxic and causes paralysis with minimal local findings.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology in Forensic Medicine. The 20-minute whole blood clotting test is a simple bedside indicator, and polyvalent anti-snake venom is the treatment.

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?

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.