Pharynx and tonsils: Centor criteria: 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: Centor criteria

Sample item

A 22-year-old has a sore throat, tonsillar exudates, tender anterior cervical nodes and fever, with no cough. How many Centor criteria are present, and what does this suggest?

ATwo, a need to observe onlyBOne, a viral infectionCZero, a non-infective causeDFour, a high likelihood of group A streptococcal pharyngitis

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Four, a high likelihood of group A streptococcal pharyngitis

The Centor criteria are tonsillar exudate, tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, fever above 38 degrees C and absence of cough. Four criteria give about 50 percent or higher probability of streptococcal infection and warrant testing and antibiotics. Age modifications are in the McIsaac score.

Option by option

A. Two, a need to observe only
Observation alone suits a score of 0 to 1.
B. One, a viral infection
More than one criterion is present.
C. Zero, a non-infective cause
The patient has features of infection.
D. Four, a high likelihood of group A streptococcal pharyngitis (correct)
Correct. All four are present.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, Four, a high likelihood of group A streptococcal pharyngitis. The Centor criteria are tonsillar exudate, tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, fever above 38 degrees C and absence of cough.

Why is "Two, a need to observe only" not the answer?

Observation alone suits a score of 0 to 1.

Why is "One, a viral infection" not the answer?

More than one criterion is present.

Why is "Zero, a non-infective cause" not the answer?

The patient has features of infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pharynx and tonsils: Centor criteria in ENT. Four criteria give about 50 percent or higher probability of streptococcal infection and warrant testing and antibiotics. Age modifications are in the McIsaac score.

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: Centor criteria?

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.