Paediatric emergencies: haemotoxic snake bite: 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.

Try it

Pediatrics · Paediatric emergencies: haemotoxic snake bite

Sample item

A 7-year-old bitten on the foot 3 hours ago has marked local swelling, bleeding from the gums and oozing at the bite site. What is the most useful bedside test to guide anti-snake venom therapy?

ASerum creatine kinase measurementB20-minute whole blood clotting testCUrine microscopy for red cell castsDNeostigmine challenge test

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. 20-minute whole blood clotting test

Bleeding after a viper bite signals venom-induced consumption coagulopathy. The 20-minute whole blood clotting test is a simple bedside test: blood that fails to clot in a clean glass tube after 20 minutes confirms coagulopathy and guides anti-snake venom and repeat dosing.

Option by option

A. Serum creatine kinase measurement
Creatine kinase assesses myotoxicity such as in sea snake or Russell's viper rhabdomyolysis and does not show coagulopathy.
B. 20-minute whole blood clotting test (correct)
Correct. A failure to clot in 20 minutes confirms coagulopathy and guides antivenom.
C. Urine microscopy for red cell casts
Urine microscopy is not a bedside test for coagulopathy and would not guide antivenom.
D. Neostigmine challenge test
The neostigmine challenge is used in neurotoxic envenomation to assess response of paralysis.

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 B, 20-minute whole blood clotting test. Bleeding after a viper bite signals venom-induced consumption coagulopathy.

Why is "Serum creatine kinase measurement" not the answer?

Creatine kinase assesses myotoxicity such as in sea snake or Russell's viper rhabdomyolysis and does not show coagulopathy.

Why is "Urine microscopy for red cell casts" not the answer?

Urine microscopy is not a bedside test for coagulopathy and would not guide antivenom.

Why is "Neostigmine challenge test" not the answer?

The neostigmine challenge is used in neurotoxic envenomation to assess response of paralysis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric emergencies: haemotoxic snake bite in Pediatrics. The 20-minute whole blood clotting test is a simple bedside test: blood that fails to clot in a clean glass tube after 20 minutes confirms coagulopathy and guides anti-snake venom and repeat dosing.

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 emergencies: haemotoxic snake bite?

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.