Respiratory: foreign body aspiration: practice question

A Pediatrics 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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Pediatrics · Respiratory: foreign body aspiration

Sample item

A 2-year-old suddenly begins coughing and wheezing while eating peanuts. A chest X-ray in expiration shows hyperinflation of the right lung with mediastinal shift to the left. What is the next step?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Rigid bronchoscopy to remove the foreign body

Foreign body in a bronchus causes a ball-valve effect with air trapping on the side of the obstruction, which is more often the right main bronchus. Rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia is the definitive treatment. Bronchodilators and physiotherapy may dislodge the object and worsen obstruction.

Option by option

  • A. Rigid bronchoscopy to remove the foreign body (correct)

    Correct. Bronchoscopic removal is definitive.

  • B. Antibiotics for 7 days

    Antibiotics do not address obstruction.

  • C. Nebulised salbutamol and discharge

    Bronchodilators do not remove the object.

  • D. Chest physiotherapy

    Physiotherapy can push the object further.

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 Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Rigid bronchoscopy to remove the foreign body. Foreign body in a bronchus causes a ball-valve effect with air trapping on the side of the obstruction, which is more often the right main bronchus.

Why is "Antibiotics for 7 days" not the answer?

Antibiotics do not address obstruction.

Why is "Nebulised salbutamol and discharge" not the answer?

Bronchodilators do not remove the object.

Why is "Chest physiotherapy" not the answer?

Physiotherapy can push the object further.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory: foreign body aspiration in Pediatrics. Rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia is the definitive treatment. Bronchodilators and physiotherapy may dislodge the object and worsen obstruction.

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 Respiratory: foreign body aspiration?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.