Communicable diseases: acute diarrhoea in children: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Communicable diseases: acute diarrhoea in children

Sample item

An 8-month-old boy weighing 8 kg has had watery diarrhoea for 2 days. He is restless and irritable, has sunken eyes and drinks eagerly, and the skin pinch goes back slowly. There is no blood in the stool. Which management is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. ORS about 600 mL over 4 hours, with zinc 20 mg daily for 14 days

This is some dehydration, managed by Plan B: ORS 75 mL/kg over 4 hours, which is 75 x 8 = 600 mL. Zinc is given for 14 days at 20 mg daily for infants aged 6 months or more and 10 mg daily below 6 months, and it reduces the duration and recurrence of diarrhoea. Antibiotics are reserved for dysentery or suspected cholera.

Option by option

  • A. Intravenous Ringer lactate 100 mL/kg over 3 hours

    Intravenous fluids are for severe dehydration (Plan C) and are not needed when the child can drink.

  • B. ORS about 600 mL over 4 hours, with zinc 20 mg daily for 14 days (correct)

    Correct. Plan B ORS volume and the 20 mg zinc dose for age of 6 months or more are both right.

  • C. Home ORS after each loose stool, an antibiotic and no zinc

    Antibiotics are not indicated for watery diarrhoea without cholera, and zinc is an essential part of treatment.

  • D. ORS about 600 mL over 4 hours, with zinc 10 mg daily for 14 days

    Zinc 10 mg is the dose for infants below 6 months and would be inadequate at 8 months.

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 PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, ORS about 600 mL over 4 hours, with zinc 20 mg daily for 14 days. This is some dehydration, managed by Plan B: ORS 75 mL/kg over 4 hours, which is 75 x 8 = 600 mL.

Why is "Intravenous Ringer lactate 100 mL/kg over 3 hours" not the answer?

Intravenous fluids are for severe dehydration (Plan C) and are not needed when the child can drink.

Why is "Home ORS after each loose stool, an antibiotic and no zinc" not the answer?

Antibiotics are not indicated for watery diarrhoea without cholera, and zinc is an essential part of treatment.

Why is "ORS about 600 mL over 4 hours, with zinc 10 mg daily for 14 days" not the answer?

Zinc 10 mg is the dose for infants below 6 months and would be inadequate at 8 months.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: acute diarrhoea in children in PSM. Zinc is given for 14 days at 20 mg daily for infants aged 6 months or more and 10 mg daily below 6 months, and it reduces the duration and recurrence of diarrhoea. Antibiotics are reserved for dysentery or suspected cholera.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Communicable diseases: acute diarrhoea in children?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.