Paediatric infections: dengue critical phase: 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 · Paediatric infections: dengue critical phase

Sample item

A 6-year-old with 4 days of fever now has defervescence, abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rising haematocrit and falling platelets. Which management principle is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Careful IV crystalloid with monitoring; avoid steroids and NSAIDs

The critical phase of dengue occurs around days 3 to 7 as fever settles, with plasma leakage evident as rising haematocrit and warning signs. Management is judicious fluid therapy, with paracetamol for fever, and avoidance of NSAIDs, aspirin and steroids.

Option by option

  • A. Careful IV crystalloid with monitoring; avoid steroids and NSAIDs (correct)

    Correct. Fluids are guided by haematocrit and clinical status.

  • B. Give high-dose steroids

    Steroids have no benefit in dengue.

  • C. Give aspirin for pain

    Aspirin and NSAIDs increase bleeding risk.

  • D. Prophylactic platelet transfusion

    Prophylactic platelet transfusion is not recommended without bleeding.

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, Careful IV crystalloid with monitoring; avoid steroids and NSAIDs. The critical phase of dengue occurs around days 3 to 7 as fever settles, with plasma leakage evident as rising haematocrit and warning signs.

Why is "Give high-dose steroids" not the answer?

Steroids have no benefit in dengue.

Why is "Give aspirin for pain" not the answer?

Aspirin and NSAIDs increase bleeding risk.

Why is "Prophylactic platelet transfusion" not the answer?

Prophylactic platelet transfusion is not recommended without bleeding.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric infections: dengue critical phase in Pediatrics. Management is judicious fluid therapy, with paracetamol for fever, and avoidance of NSAIDs, aspirin and steroids.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Paediatric infections: dengue critical phase?

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.