Asphyxial deaths: 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 · Asphyxial deaths

Sample item

A person dies in a crowd crush. The face, neck and upper chest are deeply congested and cyanosed with numerous petechiae, sharply demarcated from the rest of the body. What is the cause of death?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Traumatic asphyxia

Traumatic asphyxia follows severe chest and abdominal compression that prevents breathing and raises venous pressure in the head and neck. This causes an ecchymotic mask with petechiae and subconjunctival haemorrhages.

Option by option

  • A. Traumatic asphyxia (correct)

    Compression with sharply demarcated head and neck congestion is classical.

  • B. Drowning

    Drowning involves immersion and froth at the mouth and nose.

  • C. Smothering

    Smothering is obstruction of the nose and mouth without such a sharp demarcation.

  • D. Choking

    Choking is obstruction inside the airway.

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 Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Traumatic asphyxia. Traumatic asphyxia follows severe chest and abdominal compression that prevents breathing and raises venous pressure in the head and neck.

Why is "Drowning" not the answer?

Drowning involves immersion and froth at the mouth and nose.

Why is "Smothering" not the answer?

Smothering is obstruction of the nose and mouth without such a sharp demarcation.

Why is "Choking" not the answer?

Choking is obstruction inside the airway.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Asphyxial deaths in Forensic Medicine. This causes an ecchymotic mask with petechiae and subconjunctival haemorrhages.

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 Asphyxial deaths?

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.