Infectious diseases: tuberculosis: 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 · Infectious diseases: tuberculosis

Sample item

A child has chronic cough, weight loss, close household contact with pulmonary tuberculosis, and a positive tuberculin test. What is the next diagnostic priority?

AEvaluate for active tuberculosis with clinical assessment and appropriate imaging and microbiologyBDelay evaluation until adulthoodCGive cough syrup onlyDAssume latent infection without assessment

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Evaluate for active tuberculosis with clinical assessment and appropriate imaging and microbiology

Children exposed to tuberculosis need assessment to distinguish latent infection from active disease. Symptoms and contact history require prompt clinical evaluation and age-appropriate investigations.

Option by option

A. Evaluate for active tuberculosis with clinical assessment and appropriate imaging and microbiology (correct)
Correct. Symptomatic exposed children require active-disease assessment.
B. Delay evaluation until adulthood
Delay risks progression and transmission.
C. Give cough syrup only
Cough syrup does not investigate or treat tuberculosis.
D. Assume latent infection without assessment
Symptoms mean latent infection cannot simply be assumed.

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 Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Evaluate for active tuberculosis with clinical assessment and appropriate imaging and microbiology. Children exposed to tuberculosis need assessment to distinguish latent infection from active disease.

Why is "Delay evaluation until adulthood" not the answer?

Delay risks progression and transmission.

Why is "Give cough syrup only" not the answer?

Cough syrup does not investigate or treat tuberculosis.

Why is "Assume latent infection without assessment" not the answer?

Symptoms mean latent infection cannot simply be assumed.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious diseases: tuberculosis in Pediatrics. Symptoms and contact history require prompt clinical evaluation and age-appropriate investigations.

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 Infectious diseases: tuberculosis?

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.