Otology: otitis media with effusion: 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 · Otology: otitis media with effusion

Sample item

A 5-year-old has had bilateral glue ear with a 35 dB conductive loss for four months and adenoid hypertrophy with snoring. What is the best management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Myringotomy with grommet insertion and adenoidectomy

Persistent effusion for more than three months with hearing loss warrants ventilation tubes, and adenoidectomy helps because adenoid hypertrophy contributes to tubal obstruction. Antibiotics do not clear chronic effusion, and mastoidectomy is not indicated.

Option by option

  • A. Myringotomy with grommet insertion and adenoidectomy (correct)

    Correct. Grommets and adenoidectomy treat persistent effusion with adenoid disease.

  • B. Hearing aid only for life

    Hearing aids are a temporary option when surgery is not possible.

  • C. Mastoidectomy

    Mastoidectomy has no role in simple effusion.

  • D. Oral antibiotics for a month

    Prolonged antibiotics do not resolve chronic glue ear.

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 A, Myringotomy with grommet insertion and adenoidectomy. Persistent effusion for more than three months with hearing loss warrants ventilation tubes, and adenoidectomy helps because adenoid hypertrophy contributes to tubal obstruction.

Why is "Hearing aid only for life" not the answer?

Hearing aids are a temporary option when surgery is not possible.

Why is "Mastoidectomy" not the answer?

Mastoidectomy has no role in simple effusion.

Why is "Oral antibiotics for a month" not the answer?

Prolonged antibiotics do not resolve chronic glue ear.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Otology: otitis media with effusion in ENT. Antibiotics do not clear chronic effusion, and mastoidectomy is not indicated.

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 Otology: otitis media with effusion?

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.