Nose and paranasal sinuses: recurrent childhood epistaxis: 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 · Nose and paranasal sinuses: recurrent childhood epistaxis

Sample item

A 6-year-old has repeated small anterior nosebleeds with crusting of the anterior septum and a habit of nose picking. Examination and platelet count are normal. What is the preferred first approach?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Petroleum jelly emollient to the vestibule and keep nails short

Recurrent bleeding from Little's area with crusting is managed conservatively. An emollient softens crusts and reduces picking and trauma. Cautery is reserved for a visible bleeding point and bilateral septal cautery risks perforation.

Option by option

  • A. Sphenopalatine artery ligation

    Arterial ligation is for refractory posterior bleeding.

  • B. Petroleum jelly emollient to the vestibule and keep nails short (correct)

    Correct. Emollient to soften crusts and reduced picking is first-line.

  • C. Bilateral septal cautery

    Bilateral septal cautery risks septal perforation and is not first-line here.

  • D. Immediate nasal packing

    Packing is for active heavy bleeding and is traumatic in a child.

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 B, Petroleum jelly emollient to the vestibule and keep nails short. Recurrent bleeding from Little's area with crusting is managed conservatively.

Why is "Sphenopalatine artery ligation" not the answer?

Arterial ligation is for refractory posterior bleeding.

Why is "Bilateral septal cautery" not the answer?

Bilateral septal cautery risks septal perforation and is not first-line here.

Why is "Immediate nasal packing" not the answer?

Packing is for active heavy bleeding and is traumatic in a child.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose and paranasal sinuses: recurrent childhood epistaxis in ENT. An emollient softens crusts and reduces picking and trauma. Cautery is reserved for a visible bleeding point and bilateral septal cautery risks perforation.

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 Nose and paranasal sinuses: recurrent childhood epistaxis?

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.