Paediatric surgery: practice question

A General Surgery 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 Surgery · Paediatric surgery

Sample item

Which feature is most characteristic of intussusception in an infant?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Intermittent colicky pain with red currant jelly stool

Intussusception causes episodic severe pain as bowel telescopes into itself and may progress to vomiting, lethargy, abdominal mass, and red currant jelly stool from mucosal ischemia; urgent reduction is needed.

Option by option

  • A. Persistent painless jaundice from birth

    Neonatal jaundice has different causes and timing.

  • B. Isolated chronic cough

    Chronic cough does not describe bowel telescoping.

  • C. Symmetric hand arthritis

    Symmetric hand arthritis is not a paediatric surgical obstruction presentation.

  • D. Intermittent colicky pain with red currant jelly stool (correct)

    Correct: episodic pain with bloody mucus is a classic intussusception clue.

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 General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Intermittent colicky pain with red currant jelly stool. Intussusception causes episodic severe pain as bowel telescopes into itself and may progress to vomiting, lethargy, abdominal mass, and red currant jelly stool from mucosal ischemia; urgent reduction is needed.

Why is "Persistent painless jaundice from birth" not the answer?

Neonatal jaundice has different causes and timing.

Why is "Isolated chronic cough" not the answer?

Chronic cough does not describe bowel telescoping.

Why is "Symmetric hand arthritis" not the answer?

Symmetric hand arthritis is not a paediatric surgical obstruction presentation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: episodic pain with bloody mucus is a classic intussusception clue.

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 Paediatric surgery?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.