Toxicology: corrosive acid 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: corrosive acid ingestion

Sample item

A 3-year-old child accidentally drinks a toilet cleaner containing hydrochloric acid. He has drooling and pain on swallowing but a patent airway. Which approach is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Keep nil by mouth, avoid emesis and neutralisation, and arrange early endoscopy

Corrosive ingestion causes tissue injury at the moment of contact, and efforts to induce vomiting or to neutralise the acid add a second injury, with risks of re-exposure and exothermic reaction. Charcoal does not bind corrosives and obscures endoscopic views. Care consists of airway assessment, analgesia, keeping the child nil by mouth, and endoscopy within 12 to 24 hours to grade injury.

Option by option

  • A. Give sodium bicarbonate to neutralise the acid

    Neutralisation generates heat and gas and causes further injury.

  • B. Give activated charcoal and send home

    Charcoal does not bind acids and obscures endoscopy, and discharge is unsafe.

  • C. Keep nil by mouth, avoid emesis and neutralisation, and arrange early endoscopy (correct)

    Avoiding emesis and neutralisation prevents extra injury, and endoscopy grades the damage.

  • D. Induce vomiting to remove the acid

    Vomiting re-exposes the oesophagus to the acid and risks aspiration.

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 C, Keep nil by mouth, avoid emesis and neutralisation, and arrange early endoscopy. Corrosive ingestion causes tissue injury at the moment of contact, and efforts to induce vomiting or to neutralise the acid add a second injury, with risks of re-exposure and exothermic reaction.

Why is "Give sodium bicarbonate to neutralise the acid" not the answer?

Neutralisation generates heat and gas and causes further injury.

Why is "Give activated charcoal and send home" not the answer?

Charcoal does not bind acids and obscures endoscopy, and discharge is unsafe.

Why is "Induce vomiting to remove the acid" not the answer?

Vomiting re-exposes the oesophagus to the acid and risks aspiration.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: corrosive acid ingestion in Pharmacology. Charcoal does not bind corrosives and obscures endoscopic views. Care consists of airway assessment, analgesia, keeping the child nil by mouth, and endoscopy within 12 to 24 hours to grade 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: corrosive acid 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.