Occupational health: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Occupational health

Sample item

A textile mill worker has chest tightness and breathlessness that is worst on the first working day of the week and improves later. Which condition is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Byssinosis

Byssinosis is caused by inhalation of cotton, flax or hemp dust. Early disease causes reversible airway narrowing with typical Monday symptoms, and chronic exposure can cause permanent obstruction.

Option by option

  • A. Silicosis

    Silicosis follows silica exposure and causes nodular fibrosis.

  • B. Bagassosis

    Bagassosis follows exposure to mouldy sugarcane waste.

  • C. Anthracosis

    Anthracosis is caused by coal dust.

  • D. Byssinosis (correct)

    Cotton dust exposure with Monday symptoms is characteristic.

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 PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Byssinosis. Byssinosis is caused by inhalation of cotton, flax or hemp dust.

Why is "Silicosis" not the answer?

Silicosis follows silica exposure and causes nodular fibrosis.

Why is "Bagassosis" not the answer?

Bagassosis follows exposure to mouldy sugarcane waste.

Why is "Anthracosis" not the answer?

Anthracosis is caused by coal dust.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Occupational health in PSM. Early disease causes reversible airway narrowing with typical Monday symptoms, and chronic exposure can cause permanent obstruction.

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 Occupational health?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.