Communicable diseases: rotavirus vaccine safety: 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: rotavirus vaccine safety

Sample item

A health worker counsels the mother of a 10-week-old infant after the second dose of oral rotavirus vaccine. Which symptom should make the mother bring the baby to the facility immediately?

ASlight fussiness and reduced feeding for a dayBInconsolable crying with drawn-up legs, vomiting and bloody stoolCMild fever for one day after the vaccinationDTwo or three loose stools on the same evening

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Inconsolable crying with drawn-up legs, vomiting and bloody stool

Intussusception is a rare adverse event after rotavirus vaccines, usually in the first week or so after a dose. Mothers should be told to seek care at once for severe episodic crying, persistent vomiting or blood in stool, whereas mild fever, fussiness or brief loose stools are common and minor.

Option by option

A. Slight fussiness and reduced feeding for a day
Brief fussiness or reduced feeding is a minor and self-limited reaction.
B. Inconsolable crying with drawn-up legs, vomiting and bloody stool (correct)
Correct. These features suggest intussusception, which needs urgent evaluation.
C. Mild fever for one day after the vaccination
A mild fever for a day is a common minor reaction and needs only reassurance.
D. Two or three loose stools on the same evening
A few loose stools can occur after the vaccine and are not an alarm sign by themselves.

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.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Inconsolable crying with drawn-up legs, vomiting and bloody stool. Intussusception is a rare adverse event after rotavirus vaccines, usually in the first week or so after a dose.

Why is "Slight fussiness and reduced feeding for a day" not the answer?

Brief fussiness or reduced feeding is a minor and self-limited reaction.

Why is "Mild fever for one day after the vaccination" not the answer?

A mild fever for a day is a common minor reaction and needs only reassurance.

Why is "Two or three loose stools on the same evening" not the answer?

A few loose stools can occur after the vaccine and are not an alarm sign by themselves.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: rotavirus vaccine safety in PSM. Mothers should be told to seek care at once for severe episodic crying, persistent vomiting or blood in stool, whereas mild fever, fussiness or brief loose stools are common and minor.

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 Communicable diseases: rotavirus vaccine safety?

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.