Paediatric airway: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Paediatric airway

Sample item

A 3-week-old thriving infant has inspiratory stridor that worsens on crying and when lying on the back and improves when prone. Feeding is normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Laryngomalacia

Laryngomalacia is the commonest cause of congenital stridor, due to collapse of floppy supraglottic structures such as an omega-shaped epiglottis and short aryepiglottic folds during inspiration. Most cases settle spontaneously by about 18 to 24 months.

Option by option

  • A. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis

    Bilateral vocal cord paralysis typically causes more severe, often biphasic stridor with distress, and the cry is usually preserved.

  • B. Laryngeal web

    A laryngeal web typically gives a weak cry or aphonia from birth.

  • C. Laryngomalacia (correct)

    Inspiratory stridor worse supine or with crying in a well infant is the classic picture.

  • D. Subglottic stenosis

    Subglottic stenosis causes biphasic stridor and is usually persistent or follows intubation.

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 ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Laryngomalacia. Laryngomalacia is the commonest cause of congenital stridor, due to collapse of floppy supraglottic structures such as an omega-shaped epiglottis and short aryepiglottic folds during inspiration.

Why is "Bilateral vocal cord paralysis" not the answer?

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis typically causes more severe, often biphasic stridor with distress, and the cry is usually preserved.

Why is "Laryngeal web" not the answer?

A laryngeal web typically gives a weak cry or aphonia from birth.

Why is "Subglottic stenosis" not the answer?

Subglottic stenosis causes biphasic stridor and is usually persistent or follows intubation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric airway in ENT. Most cases settle spontaneously by about 18 to 24 months.

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 airway?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.