Paediatric infections: chlamydial pneumonia of infancy: 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 · Paediatric infections: chlamydial pneumonia of infancy

Sample item

A 6-week-old afebrile baby has a staccato cough, tachypnoea and hyperinflated lungs with bilateral infiltrates. The mother reports a purulent eye discharge in the baby during week one. Peripheral eosinophils are raised. Which organism is responsible?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis acquired from the birth canal can cause afebrile pneumonia at 1 to 3 months, with a staccato cough, eosinophilia and often earlier conjunctivitis. Treatment is oral azithromycin or erythromycin. Fever and wheeze would be more typical of RSV bronchiolitis.

Option by option

  • A. Bordetella pertussis

    Pertussis causes whooping paroxysms with lymphocytosis.

  • B. Chlamydia trachomatis (correct)

    Correct. Afebrile staccato cough with eosinophilia after neonatal conjunctivitis points to C. trachomatis.

  • C. Respiratory syncytial virus

    RSV causes wheeze and fever with seasonal outbreaks, without eosinophilia.

  • D. Pneumocystis jirovecii

    Pneumocystis occurs in immunocompromised infants with marked hypoxia.

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 Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia trachomatis acquired from the birth canal can cause afebrile pneumonia at 1 to 3 months, with a staccato cough, eosinophilia and often earlier conjunctivitis.

Why is "Bordetella pertussis" not the answer?

Pertussis causes whooping paroxysms with lymphocytosis.

Why is "Respiratory syncytial virus" not the answer?

RSV causes wheeze and fever with seasonal outbreaks, without eosinophilia.

Why is "Pneumocystis jirovecii" not the answer?

Pneumocystis occurs in immunocompromised infants with marked hypoxia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric infections: chlamydial pneumonia of infancy in Pediatrics. Treatment is oral azithromycin or erythromycin. Fever and wheeze would be more typical of RSV bronchiolitis.

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 infections: chlamydial pneumonia of infancy?

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.