Pharynx and tonsils: infectious mononucleosis with airway obstruction: 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 · Pharynx and tonsils: infectious mononucleosis with airway obstruction

Sample item

A teenager with infectious mononucleosis has massively enlarged kissing tonsils and stridor with difficulty swallowing. Which treatment is indicated?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Corticosteroids with airway monitoring

Steroids reduce lymphoid swelling and are indicated for impending airway obstruction in mononucleosis. Ampicillin and amoxicillin cause a rash in this infection and should be avoided. Surgery is a last resort.

Option by option

  • A. Immediate tonsillectomy

    Tonsillectomy in the acute phase is hazardous and reserved for failure of medical measures.

  • B. Oral antifungal

    No fungal infection is present.

  • C. Amoxicillin

    Amoxicillin causes a characteristic rash in mononucleosis and does not treat the virus.

  • D. Corticosteroids with airway monitoring (correct)

    Correct. Corticosteroids shrink the lymphoid tissue and relieve impending obstruction.

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 D, Corticosteroids with airway monitoring. Steroids reduce lymphoid swelling and are indicated for impending airway obstruction in mononucleosis.

Why is "Immediate tonsillectomy" not the answer?

Tonsillectomy in the acute phase is hazardous and reserved for failure of medical measures.

Why is "Oral antifungal" not the answer?

No fungal infection is present.

Why is "Amoxicillin" not the answer?

Amoxicillin causes a characteristic rash in mononucleosis and does not treat the virus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pharynx and tonsils: infectious mononucleosis with airway obstruction in ENT. Ampicillin and amoxicillin cause a rash in this infection and should be avoided. Surgery is a last resort.

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 Pharynx and tonsils: infectious mononucleosis with airway obstruction?

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.