Haematology: sickle cell disease: 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 · Haematology: sickle cell disease

Sample item

A 3-year-old with sickle cell disease has fever of 39.5 degrees C. Why is this an emergency?

AThe child cannot receive antibioticsBFever causes sickling in all casesCIt always indicates aplastic crisisDFunctional asplenia puts the child at risk of overwhelming encapsulated bacterial sepsis

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Functional asplenia puts the child at risk of overwhelming encapsulated bacterial sepsis

Autosplenectomy causes susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae sepsis. Fever needs urgent blood culture and parenteral antibiotics such as ceftriaxone. Penicillin prophylaxis and pneumococcal vaccination reduce mortality.

Option by option

A. The child cannot receive antibiotics
Antibiotics are essential.
B. Fever causes sickling in all cases
Fever is not the sickling trigger in every case.
C. It always indicates aplastic crisis
Aplastic crisis is a separate condition.
D. Functional asplenia puts the child at risk of overwhelming encapsulated bacterial sepsis (correct)
Correct. Functional asplenia causes risk of sepsis.

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 Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is D, Functional asplenia puts the child at risk of overwhelming encapsulated bacterial sepsis. Autosplenectomy causes susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae sepsis.

Why is "The child cannot receive antibiotics" not the answer?

Antibiotics are essential.

Why is "Fever causes sickling in all cases" not the answer?

Fever is not the sickling trigger in every case.

Why is "It always indicates aplastic crisis" not the answer?

Aplastic crisis is a separate condition.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Haematology: sickle cell disease in Pediatrics. Fever needs urgent blood culture and parenteral antibiotics such as ceftriaxone. Penicillin prophylaxis and pneumococcal vaccination reduce mortality.

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 Haematology: sickle cell disease?

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.