Haematology: 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.

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Pediatrics · Haematology

Sample item

A 2-year-old with severe anaemia needing regular transfusions since infancy has frontal bossing and hepatosplenomegaly. A skull radiograph shows a hair-on-end appearance. Which therapy is needed to prevent complications of the treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Iron chelation therapy

Beta-thalassaemia major causes ineffective erythropoiesis, marrow expansion, and the hair-on-end skull. Lifelong transfusion causes iron overload, damaging heart, liver and endocrine glands. Chelators such as deferasirox or desferrioxamine are used, and hydroxyurea or bone marrow transplantation may be used in select cases.

Option by option

  • A. Oral iron supplements

    Oral iron worsens iron overload in transfusion-dependent patients.

  • B. Vitamin B12 injections

    Vitamin B12 deficiency is not the cause.

  • C. Corticosteroids

    Corticosteroids do not treat thalassaemia.

  • D. Iron chelation therapy (correct)

    Correct. Chelation removes transfusional iron and prevents cardiac and endocrine damage.

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 Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is D, Iron chelation therapy. Beta-thalassaemia major causes ineffective erythropoiesis, marrow expansion, and the hair-on-end skull.

Why is "Oral iron supplements" not the answer?

Oral iron worsens iron overload in transfusion-dependent patients.

Why is "Vitamin B12 injections" not the answer?

Vitamin B12 deficiency is not the cause.

Why is "Corticosteroids" not the answer?

Corticosteroids do not treat thalassaemia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Haematology in Pediatrics. Lifelong transfusion causes iron overload, damaging heart, liver and endocrine glands. Chelators such as deferasirox or desferrioxamine are used, and hydroxyurea or bone marrow transplantation may be used in select cases.

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 Haematology?

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.