Larynx and airway: spasmodic croup: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Larynx and airway: spasmodic croup

Sample item

A 3-year-old with an atopic family history wakes at night with a sudden barking cough and inspiratory stridor but has no fever or coryza. The episode settles by morning, and similar episodes have occurred before. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Spasmodic croup

Spasmodic croup is a recurrent, abrupt, nocturnal episode without fever or prodrome, thought to involve airway hyperreactivity and allergy. Viral laryngotracheobronchitis follows a coryzal illness with low-grade fever.

Option by option

  • A. Inhaled foreign body

    A foreign body causes sudden choking in the day and persistent signs.

  • B. Laryngotracheobronchitis

    Viral croup follows a coryzal prodrome with fever and lasts several days.

  • C. Spasmodic croup (correct)

    Correct. Recurrent afebrile nocturnal attacks that resolve quickly fit spasmodic croup.

  • D. Acute epiglottitis

    Epiglottitis causes high fever, toxicity and drooling, not brief recurrent attacks.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Spasmodic croup. Spasmodic croup is a recurrent, abrupt, nocturnal episode without fever or prodrome, thought to involve airway hyperreactivity and allergy.

Why is "Inhaled foreign body" not the answer?

A foreign body causes sudden choking in the day and persistent signs.

Why is "Laryngotracheobronchitis" not the answer?

Viral croup follows a coryzal prodrome with fever and lasts several days.

Why is "Acute epiglottitis" not the answer?

Epiglottitis causes high fever, toxicity and drooling, not brief recurrent attacks.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Larynx and airway: spasmodic croup in ENT. Viral laryngotracheobronchitis follows a coryzal illness with low-grade fever.

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 Larynx and airway: spasmodic croup?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.