Toxicology: decontamination: 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: decontamination

Sample item

A man is brought one hour after drinking a toilet cleaner containing hydrochloric acid. He is drooling and has burns on the lips. Which step should be avoided?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Gastric lavage

Gastric lavage is contraindicated in corrosive ingestion because of the risk of oesophageal or gastric perforation and re-exposure of the mucosa. Induced vomiting is also avoided. Management includes airway protection, fluids, analgesia and early endoscopic assessment of injury.

Option by option

  • A. Securing the airway and starting intravenous fluids

    Airway protection and fluids are essential supportive care.

  • B. Gastric lavage (correct)

    Correct. Lavage risks perforation of the injured gut.

  • C. Adequate analgesia and nil by mouth

    Analgesia and keeping the patient nil by mouth are appropriate.

  • D. Endoscopy within 12 to 24 hours

    Endoscopy within a day grades the injury and guides care.

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 B, Gastric lavage. Gastric lavage is contraindicated in corrosive ingestion because of the risk of oesophageal or gastric perforation and re-exposure of the mucosa.

Why is "Securing the airway and starting intravenous fluids" not the answer?

Airway protection and fluids are essential supportive care.

Why is "Adequate analgesia and nil by mouth" not the answer?

Analgesia and keeping the patient nil by mouth are appropriate.

Why is "Endoscopy within 12 to 24 hours" not the answer?

Endoscopy within a day grades the injury and guides care.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: decontamination in Forensic Medicine. Induced vomiting is also avoided. Management includes airway protection, fluids, analgesia and early endoscopic assessment of injury.

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: decontamination?

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.