Gastroenterology: 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 · Gastroenterology

Sample item

Fever, jaundice and right upper quadrant pain together (Charcot's triad) suggest:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ascending cholangitis

Charcot's triad indicates infected obstructed bile ducts, usually from a common bile duct stone. Adding hypotension and confusion makes Reynolds' pentad. Treatment is antibiotics and urgent biliary drainage by ERCP.

Option by option

  • A. Ascending cholangitis (correct)

    Correct. Infected, obstructed bile ducts give fever, jaundice and pain.

  • B. Acute cholecystitis

    Cholecystitis gives pain and fever but rarely jaundice.

  • C. Acute hepatitis A

    Hepatitis A gives jaundice with prodromal illness and raised transaminases, usually without marked pain.

  • D. Acute pancreatitis

    Pancreatitis presents with epigastric pain radiating to the back and raised lipase.

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.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Ascending cholangitis. Charcot's triad indicates infected obstructed bile ducts, usually from a common bile duct stone.

Why is "Acute cholecystitis" not the answer?

Cholecystitis gives pain and fever but rarely jaundice.

Why is "Acute hepatitis A" not the answer?

Hepatitis A gives jaundice with prodromal illness and raised transaminases, usually without marked pain.

Why is "Acute pancreatitis" not the answer?

Pancreatitis presents with epigastric pain radiating to the back and raised lipase.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gastroenterology in General Medicine. Adding hypotension and confusion makes Reynolds' pentad. Treatment is antibiotics and urgent biliary drainage by ERCP.

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 Gastroenterology?

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.