Toxicology: kerosene ingestion: practice question

A Pharmacology 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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Pharmacology · Toxicology: kerosene ingestion

Sample item

A 2-year-old child is brought 30 minutes after drinking kerosene from a bottle. He is coughing and has a respiratory rate of 40 per minute with oxygen saturation of 94%. Which is the most appropriate management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Oxygen and observation with chest radiograph monitoring, avoiding induced vomiting

The main danger of hydrocarbon ingestion is aspiration of the low-viscosity liquid, which causes chemical pneumonitis, while systemic absorption from the gut is limited. Induced emesis and gastric lavage increase the risk of aspiration and are contraindicated. Management is supportive, with oxygen, observation and chest imaging, and steroids or prophylactic antibiotics are not indicated.

Option by option

  • A. Syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting

    Ipecac-induced vomiting raises the risk of aspiration of kerosene.

  • B. Gastric lavage with a wide-bore tube

    Lavage can provoke aspiration and worsen chemical pneumonitis.

  • C. Activated charcoal by nasogastric tube

    Charcoal does not bind hydrocarbons well and nasogastric tube placement risks vomiting and aspiration.

  • D. Oxygen and observation with chest radiograph monitoring, avoiding induced vomiting (correct)

    Supportive care with observation avoids further aspiration and treats the pneumonitis.

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 Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is D, Oxygen and observation with chest radiograph monitoring, avoiding induced vomiting. The main danger of hydrocarbon ingestion is aspiration of the low-viscosity liquid, which causes chemical pneumonitis, while systemic absorption from the gut is limited.

Why is "Syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting" not the answer?

Ipecac-induced vomiting raises the risk of aspiration of kerosene.

Why is "Gastric lavage with a wide-bore tube" not the answer?

Lavage can provoke aspiration and worsen chemical pneumonitis.

Why is "Activated charcoal by nasogastric tube" not the answer?

Charcoal does not bind hydrocarbons well and nasogastric tube placement risks vomiting and aspiration.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: kerosene ingestion in Pharmacology. Induced emesis and gastric lavage increase the risk of aspiration and are contraindicated. Management is supportive, with oxygen, observation and chest imaging, and steroids or prophylactic antibiotics are not indicated.

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: kerosene ingestion?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology 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.