Throat: tonsillectomy: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Throat: tonsillectomy

Sample item

Which child is the most appropriate candidate for tonsillectomy according to widely used criteria?

AA child with 7 well-documented episodes of tonsillitis in the last yearBA child with 2 mild episodes of sore throat in a yearCA child with enlarged tonsils but no symptomsDA child with a single episode of tonsillitis

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. A child with 7 well-documented episodes of tonsillitis in the last year

Commonly used (Paradise) criteria support tonsillectomy for recurrent, documented, treated sore throats: at least 7 episodes in 1 year, 5 per year for 2 years, or 3 per year for 3 years, with clinical features of tonsillitis. Other indications include peritonsillar abscess recurrence, obstructive sleep apnoea from adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and suspected malignancy.

Option by option

A. A child with 7 well-documented episodes of tonsillitis in the last year (correct)
Correct. Seven documented episodes in one year meets the criteria.
B. A child with 2 mild episodes of sore throat in a year
Two mild episodes do not meet the threshold.
C. A child with enlarged tonsils but no symptoms
Large tonsils in a healthy child do not need surgery.
D. A child with a single episode of tonsillitis
A single episode is not an indication.

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.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, A child with 7 well-documented episodes of tonsillitis in the last year. Commonly used (Paradise) criteria support tonsillectomy for recurrent, documented, treated sore throats: at least 7 episodes in 1 year, 5 per year for 2 years, or 3 per year for 3 years, with clinical features of tonsillitis.

Why is "A child with 2 mild episodes of sore throat in a year" not the answer?

Two mild episodes do not meet the threshold.

Why is "A child with enlarged tonsils but no symptoms" not the answer?

Large tonsils in a healthy child do not need surgery.

Why is "A child with a single episode of tonsillitis" not the answer?

A single episode is not an indication.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Throat: tonsillectomy in ENT. Other indications include peritonsillar abscess recurrence, obstructive sleep apnoea from adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and suspected malignancy.

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 Throat: tonsillectomy?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.