Occupational health: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Occupational health

Sample item

A worker in a sugar mill handling stored sugarcane residue develops fever, cough and breathlessness several hours after exposure. Which agent causes this hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Thermoactinomyces sacchari in bagasse dust

Bagassosis is a form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis) caused by inhaling mouldy sugarcane bagasse containing Thermoactinomyces sacchari. Avoiding exposure is the key to prevention and treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Asbestos fibres

    Asbestos causes asbestosis, pleural plaques and mesothelioma.

  • B. Silica dust

    Silica causes nodular fibrosis (silicosis), not an acute hypersensitivity reaction.

  • C. Cotton dust

    Cotton dust causes byssinosis, with Monday chest tightness.

  • D. Thermoactinomyces sacchari in bagasse dust (correct)

    Correct. Bagasse mould spores cause the alveolitis.

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.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Thermoactinomyces sacchari in bagasse dust. Bagassosis is a form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis) caused by inhaling mouldy sugarcane bagasse containing Thermoactinomyces sacchari.

Why is "Asbestos fibres" not the answer?

Asbestos causes asbestosis, pleural plaques and mesothelioma.

Why is "Silica dust" not the answer?

Silica causes nodular fibrosis (silicosis), not an acute hypersensitivity reaction.

Why is "Cotton dust" not the answer?

Cotton dust causes byssinosis, with Monday chest tightness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Occupational health in PSM. Avoiding exposure is the key to prevention and treatment.

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 Occupational health?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.