Emergency and critical care: kerosene ingestion: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Emergency and critical care: kerosene ingestion

Sample item

A 2-year-old accidentally drank a mouthful of kerosene and has coughed since. He is alert, with respiratory rate 40 per minute and crackles on the right side. Which measure should be avoided?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Induced vomiting or gastric lavage

Kerosene is a low-viscosity hydrocarbon that is dangerous when aspirated and not significantly absorbed from the gut. Vomiting or lavage risks aspiration and worsens chemical pneumonitis. Treatment is supportive, with oxygen as needed.

Option by option

  • A. Observation with a chest radiograph

    Observation and radiograph are appropriate to follow the lung injury.

  • B. Supportive care for chemical pneumonitis

    Supportive care is the mainstay of management.

  • C. Oxygen supplementation

    Oxygen helps hypoxia from pneumonitis.

  • D. Induced vomiting or gastric lavage (correct)

    Correct. Emptying the stomach increases the risk of 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 General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Induced vomiting or gastric lavage. Kerosene is a low-viscosity hydrocarbon that is dangerous when aspirated and not significantly absorbed from the gut.

Why is "Observation with a chest radiograph" not the answer?

Observation and radiograph are appropriate to follow the lung injury.

Why is "Supportive care for chemical pneumonitis" not the answer?

Supportive care is the mainstay of management.

Why is "Oxygen supplementation" not the answer?

Oxygen helps hypoxia from pneumonitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Emergency and critical care: kerosene ingestion in General Medicine. Vomiting or lavage risks aspiration and worsens chemical pneumonitis. Treatment is supportive, with oxygen as needed.

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 Emergency and critical care: kerosene ingestion?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.