Toxicology: metal fume fever: practice question

A Forensic Medicine 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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Forensic Medicine · Toxicology: metal fume fever

Sample item

A welder cutting galvanised sheets has fever, chills, a metallic taste and aching muscles some hours after work. He recovers fully in about two days. Which fumes are responsible?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Zinc oxide

Metal fume fever follows inhalation of freshly formed zinc oxide fumes from galvanised metal. It produces a self-limited influenza-like illness with a metallic taste, and treatment is supportive. Cadmium oxide fumes can cause severe pneumonitis, and manganese causes a parkinsonian syndrome on chronic exposure.

Option by option

  • A. Cadmium oxide

    Cadmium oxide fumes cause a delayed, severe chemical pneumonitis.

  • B. Carbon monoxide

    Carbon monoxide causes headache and confusion, without the fever and metallic taste.

  • C. Manganese dioxide

    Manganese causes chronic neurological disease, not a brief febrile illness.

  • D. Zinc oxide (correct)

    Correct. Zinc oxide fumes cause the self-limiting flu-like illness.

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 Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Zinc oxide. Metal fume fever follows inhalation of freshly formed zinc oxide fumes from galvanised metal.

Why is "Cadmium oxide" not the answer?

Cadmium oxide fumes cause a delayed, severe chemical pneumonitis.

Why is "Carbon monoxide" not the answer?

Carbon monoxide causes headache and confusion, without the fever and metallic taste.

Why is "Manganese dioxide" not the answer?

Manganese causes chronic neurological disease, not a brief febrile illness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: metal fume fever in Forensic Medicine. It produces a self-limited influenza-like illness with a metallic taste, and treatment is supportive. Cadmium oxide fumes can cause severe pneumonitis, and manganese causes a parkinsonian syndrome on chronic exposure.

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 Toxicology: metal fume fever?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine 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.