Conjunctiva and cornea: chemical conjunctivitis of the newborn: practice question

A Ophthalmology 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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Ophthalmology · Conjunctiva and cornea: chemical conjunctivitis of the newborn

Sample item

A healthy full-term baby, born at a district hospital, has mild watery redness and lid swelling in both eyes on the first day after routine prophylactic drops. There is no pus and the eyes settle within two days without treatment. What is the cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Chemical irritation from the instilled drops

Silver nitrate drops, as in Crede prophylaxis, cause a self-limiting chemical conjunctivitis within hours of instillation that clears in one to two days. Gonococcal disease appears at 2 to 5 days with profuse pus. Chlamydia appears at 5 to 14 days.

Option by option

  • A. Chlamydial infection

    Chlamydial conjunctivitis begins after about 5 days and persists without treatment.

  • B. Gonococcal infection

    Gonococcal infection starts later, on day 2 to 5, with profuse purulent discharge and risk to the cornea.

  • C. Herpes simplex infection

    Herpes simplex presents later, with vesicles or a dendritic ulcer, not a sterile watery eye on day 1.

  • D. Chemical irritation from the instilled drops (correct)

    Correct. Silver nitrate prophylaxis gives early, sterile and self-limiting irritation.

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 Ophthalmology questions

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is D, Chemical irritation from the instilled drops. Silver nitrate drops, as in Crede prophylaxis, cause a self-limiting chemical conjunctivitis within hours of instillation that clears in one to two days.

Why is "Chlamydial infection" not the answer?

Chlamydial conjunctivitis begins after about 5 days and persists without treatment.

Why is "Gonococcal infection" not the answer?

Gonococcal infection starts later, on day 2 to 5, with profuse purulent discharge and risk to the cornea.

Why is "Herpes simplex infection" not the answer?

Herpes simplex presents later, with vesicles or a dendritic ulcer, not a sterile watery eye on day 1.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Conjunctiva and cornea: chemical conjunctivitis of the newborn in Ophthalmology. Gonococcal disease appears at 2 to 5 days with profuse pus. Chlamydia appears at 5 to 14 days.

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 Conjunctiva and cornea: chemical conjunctivitis of the newborn?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology 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.