Respiratory diseases: pneumonia: 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 · Respiratory diseases: pneumonia

Sample item

An 18-month-old child has a cough for 3 days and a respiratory rate of 46 per minute, with no chest indrawing, no danger signs and feeding well. Which is the best management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Pneumonia without danger signs: oral amoxicillin for 5 days at home with follow-up

A child aged 12 to 59 months with a respiratory rate of 40 or more per minute and cough has fast breathing, which is classified as pneumonia (non-severe) under national and WHO guidance. Treatment is oral amoxicillin for 5 days with advice to return if there is chest indrawing or danger signs. Severe pneumonia, with indrawing or danger signs, needs admission and injectable therapy.

Option by option

  • A. Give a cough syrup and review as needed

    Cough syrups are not recommended and do not address bacterial pneumonia.

  • B. No antibiotic is needed since it is viral

    Fast breathing in this setting is treated as bacterial pneumonia unless proven otherwise.

  • C. Pneumonia without danger signs: oral amoxicillin for 5 days at home with follow-up (correct)

    Correct. Fast breathing alone is treated at home with oral amoxicillin.

  • D. Admit and give intravenous antibiotics

    Admission is for severe pneumonia, chest indrawing or danger signs.

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 C, Pneumonia without danger signs: oral amoxicillin for 5 days at home with follow-up. A child aged 12 to 59 months with a respiratory rate of 40 or more per minute and cough has fast breathing, which is classified as pneumonia (non-severe) under national and WHO guidance.

Why is "Give a cough syrup and review as needed" not the answer?

Cough syrups are not recommended and do not address bacterial pneumonia.

Why is "No antibiotic is needed since it is viral" not the answer?

Fast breathing in this setting is treated as bacterial pneumonia unless proven otherwise.

Why is "Admit and give intravenous antibiotics" not the answer?

Admission is for severe pneumonia, chest indrawing or danger signs.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory diseases: pneumonia in Pediatrics. Treatment is oral amoxicillin for 5 days with advice to return if there is chest indrawing or danger signs. Severe pneumonia, with indrawing or danger signs, needs admission and injectable therapy.

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 diseases: pneumonia?

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.