Child health: pneumonia classification: 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 · Child health: pneumonia classification

Sample item

An 8-month-old girl has cough for 3 days. Her respiratory rate is 54 per minute on two counts. She has no chest indrawing, no stridor, no danger signs and a normal oxygen saturation. What is the appropriate treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Oral amoxicillin for 5 days at home with follow-up

In children aged 2 to 11 months, a respiratory rate of 50 per minute or more is fast breathing. With no danger signs, no chest indrawing and normal oxygen saturation, this is pneumonia treated at home with oral amoxicillin for 5 days. Mothers are counselled on danger signs and follow-up in 2 days.

Option by option

  • A. Intramuscular ceftriaxone

    Intramuscular ceftriaxone is for severe cases needing referral.

  • B. Admission for intravenous antibiotics

    Hospital admission is for severe pneumonia with danger signs or hypoxia.

  • C. Oral amoxicillin for 5 days at home with follow-up (correct)

    Correct. Fast breathing without severe features is treated with oral amoxicillin.

  • D. Home care for cough and cold without antibiotics

    Home care without antibiotics is for cough and cold without fast breathing, but this child has fast breathing.

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 PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Oral amoxicillin for 5 days at home with follow-up. In children aged 2 to 11 months, a respiratory rate of 50 per minute or more is fast breathing.

Why is "Intramuscular ceftriaxone" not the answer?

Intramuscular ceftriaxone is for severe cases needing referral.

Why is "Admission for intravenous antibiotics" not the answer?

Hospital admission is for severe pneumonia with danger signs or hypoxia.

Why is "Home care for cough and cold without antibiotics" not the answer?

Home care without antibiotics is for cough and cold without fast breathing, but this child has fast breathing.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child health: pneumonia classification in PSM. With no danger signs, no chest indrawing and normal oxygen saturation, this is pneumonia treated at home with oral amoxicillin for 5 days. Mothers are counselled on danger signs and follow-up in 2 days.

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 Child health: pneumonia classification?

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.