Pediatric Critical Care Practice Questions

Q: A 4-year-old child presents with a high fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and swelling of the hands and feet. Laboratory findings show thrombocytosis and elevated inflammatory markers. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Kawasaki disease. ***Kawasaki disease*** ✓ * This is the correct diagnosis characterized by **high fever (>5 days)**, **bilateral non-exudative conjunctivitis**, **polymorphous rash**, and **extremity changes** (swelling of hands and feet) in a young child. * **Thrombocytosis** (typically in the second week) and **elevated inflammatory markers** (ESR, CRP) are classic laboratory findings. * Kawasaki disease is a **medium-vessel vasculitis** requiring prompt treatment with **IVIG and aspirin** to prevent coronary artery aneurysms. *Scarlet fever* * Caused by **Group A Streptococcus** producing erythrogenic toxin, presenting with fever and a characteristic **fine, sandpaper-like rash**. * Key differentiators: **strawberry tongue**, **circumoral pallor**, and **Pastia's lines** in skin creases—not the prominent conjunctivitis or hand/feet swelling seen here. * Thrombocytosis is not a typical feature in the acute phase. *Measles* * Presents with **prodromal symptoms** (cough, coryza, conjunctivitis—the "3 Cs"), followed by **Koplik spots** on buccal mucosa, then a **maculopapular rash** spreading cephalocaudally. * Does **not cause extremity swelling** or significant thrombocytosis. * The rash pattern and lack of hand/feet edema distinguish it from Kawasaki disease. *Rheumatic fever* * A **delayed complication** (2-4 weeks post-infection) of Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, diagnosed using **modified Jones criteria**. * Major criteria include **carditis, migratory polyarthritis, chorea, erythema marginatum**, and **subcutaneous nodules**—none of which match this acute presentation. * Does **not present with conjunctivitis or hand/feet swelling** as primary features.

Q: What is the best immediate intervention for a conscious infant who is choking and unable to cry?

Back blows and chest thrusts. ***Back blows and chest thrusts*** - For a **conscious infant** with severe airway obstruction, **cycles of five back blows and five chest thrusts** are the recommended immediate intervention. - This technique helps to dislodge the foreign object by creating a sudden increase in **intrathoracic pressure**. *Finger sweep* - A **finger sweep** should only be performed if the **foreign object is clearly visible** in the infant's mouth. - Blind finger sweeps can push the object further into the airway, worsening the obstruction. *Initiate CPR (if unresponsive)* - **CPR** is indicated if the infant becomes **unresponsive** during the choking episode, indicating cardiac arrest. - Since the infant is described as **conscious**, CPR is not the immediate first step. *Heimlich maneuver* - The **Heimlich maneuver** (abdominal thrusts) is recommended for **children over one year of age** and adults. - It is **not recommended for infants** due to the risk of causing internal injury to their delicate organs.

Q: A 5-month-old infant presents with vomiting, diarrhea, and signs of dehydration. On examination, the infant has a sunken fontanelle and poor skin turgor. What is the next best step in management?

Oral rehydration solution. ***Oral rehydration solution*** - The presence of a **sunken fontanelle** and **poor skin turgor** indicates **some dehydration (moderate dehydration)** according to WHO classification. - **Oral rehydration solution (ORS)** is the **first-line treatment** for moderate dehydration as per WHO and IAP guidelines (Plan B therapy). - ORS should be given at **75 ml/kg over 4 hours** with close monitoring for improvement or deterioration. - ORS is effective, safe, and preferred over IV therapy when the child can drink and does not have severe dehydration or shock. *Intravenous fluids* - IV fluids are indicated for **severe dehydration** (lethargy, shock, inability to drink, unconsciousness) or **failure of ORS therapy**. - The clinical signs described (sunken fontanelle, poor skin turgor) without mention of shock, lethargy, or inability to drink suggest moderate, not severe dehydration. - Jumping directly to IV fluids bypasses the safer, equally effective, and less invasive ORS therapy. *Antibiotics* - Antibiotics are not indicated unless there is evidence of a **bacterial infection** such as bloody diarrhea or positive stool culture. - Most cases of acute diarrhea in infants are **viral** (rotavirus, norovirus) and self-limiting. - Routine antibiotic use may lead to resistance and disrupt normal gut flora. *Antidiarrheal medications* - **Antidiarrheal medications are contraindicated in infants** as per WHO and AAP guidelines. - They can prolong infection by preventing pathogen clearance and may cause serious complications like **ileus** or **toxic megacolon**. - Treatment focuses on rehydration, not stopping diarrhea.

Q: A 1-year-old child accidentally inhales a small piece of food and begins choking. The child is conscious but cannot cough effectively. What is the most appropriate immediate intervention?

Perform abdominal thrusts. ***Perform abdominal thrusts*** - For a **conscious child aged 1 year or older** who is choking and cannot cough effectively, **abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)** are the recommended primary intervention according to PALS and AHA guidelines. - This maneuver creates artificial coughs to dislodge the foreign body from the airway. - The technique involves standing/kneeling behind the child, placing a fist above the navel, and delivering quick upward thrusts. - **Note:** Some guidelines recommend alternating **5 back blows with 5 abdominal thrusts** until the obstruction is relieved. *Start chest compressions* - **Chest compressions** are primarily used for **cardiac arrest or unconscious choking victims** when CPR is initiated, not as a first-line intervention for a foreign body airway obstruction in a conscious child. - If the child becomes unconscious, then CPR with chest compressions should be started. *Give back blows and chest thrusts* - **Back blows and chest thrusts** are the recommended sequence specifically for **infants under 1 year of age** who are choking. - For children **1 year and older**, the intervention changes to **abdominal thrusts** (with or without preceding back blows depending on the guideline). - This combination of back blows with chest thrusts is not appropriate for a 1-year-old child. *Attempt to remove the object manually* - **Blind finger sweeps** are strongly contraindicated as they can push the object further down the airway, worsening the obstruction. - Manual removal is only indicated if the object is **clearly visible** and easily reachable without risk of pushing it deeper.

Q: What is the most appropriate first aid for an infant who is choking?

Back blows and chest thrusts. ***Back blows and chest thrusts*** - For infants (under 1 year) who are choking, the recommended first aid involves a sequence of **five back blows** followed by **five chest thrusts** [1]. - This combination helps to dislodge the foreign object by creating pressure and vibrations in the airway. *Mouth-to-mouth ventilation* - This technique is part of **cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)** and is used when a person is not breathing, not for active choking with an obstructed airway. - Applying mouth-to-mouth ventilation in a choking infant would likely force the object further into the airway or be ineffective due to obstruction. *Chest compressions* - **Chest compressions** are primarily used during CPR when an infant is unresponsive and not breathing, to circulate blood. - While chest thrusts (a modified form of chest compressions) are used for choking infants, isolated chest compressions without back blows are not the complete first aid for choking. *Abdominal thrusts* - **Abdominal thrusts** (Heimlich maneuver) are recommended for children over 1 year and adults who are choking. - This technique is not recommended for infants due to the risk of damaging their delicate internal organs.

Q: During a pediatric advanced life support (PALS) course, the proper sequence of CPR for a single rescuer managing an unresponsive child in cardiac arrest is taught. What is the correct sequence according to current AHA guidelines?

Circulation, Airway, Breathing. ***Circulation, Airway, Breathing (C-A-B)*** - According to **current AHA PALS guidelines (2020)**, the C-A-B sequence is recommended for ALL rescuers performing CPR, including single rescuers managing pediatric cardiac arrest. - **Chest compressions** should be initiated first to minimize delays in restoring circulation, followed by opening the **airway** and providing **rescue breaths**. - This sequence applies to both adults and children to ensure early and effective chest compressions, which are critical for survival. - The emphasis on early compressions helps maintain coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure during cardiac arrest. *Airway, Circulation, Breathing* - This sequence does not align with current PALS guidelines. - Delaying chest compressions to establish airway first can compromise outcomes in cardiac arrest. *Airway, Breathing, Circulation (A-B-C)* - This was the **traditional sequence used before 2010** but is no longer recommended for CPR in cardiac arrest. - The A-B-C sequence may still be appropriate for **witnessed respiratory arrest** where cardiac arrest has not yet occurred, but this is not the standard CPR sequence. - Current guidelines prioritize early chest compressions (C-A-B) for established cardiac arrest. *Breathing, Circulation, Airway* - This sequence is incorrect as it attempts to provide breathing before ensuring an open airway, which is physiologically ineffective. - Additionally, it delays chest compressions, which are the priority in cardiac arrest.

Q: Which clinical sign is the most reliable for diagnosing severe dehydration in a child?

Prolonged capillary refill time. ***Prolonged capillary refill time*** - A **capillary refill time (CRT)** of more than **3 seconds** is a critical indicator of **severe circulatory compromise** and poor peripheral perfusion in children with severe dehydration. - CRT directly reflects **hemodynamic status** and tissue perfusion, making it a valuable sign for assessing the severity of hypovolemia requiring urgent fluid resuscitation. - In the context of **dehydration-induced shock**, prolonged CRT indicates the need for immediate intervention. *Sunken eyes* - **Sunken eyes** are a highly sensitive and specific sign of dehydration in children and are consistently included in WHO dehydration assessment scales. - This sign is reliable for identifying dehydration but is **equally present in both moderate and severe dehydration**, making it less specific for determining hemodynamic compromise. - While important for diagnosis, it provides less information about **circulatory status** compared to CRT. *Dry mouth* - **Dry mucous membranes** indicate reduced fluid status but are a **nonspecific sign** that can be influenced by mouth breathing, fever, or ambient humidity. - This sign appears early in dehydration but does not reliably correlate with severity or the need for urgent intervention. - Less useful for differentiating between **moderate and severe dehydration**. *Increased heart rate* - **Tachycardia** is an early compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac output in hypovolemia but has **low specificity** for dehydration. - Heart rate elevation can result from multiple causes including fever, pain, anxiety, or other systemic conditions. - While sensitive, it is **not specific enough** to be the most reliable indicator of severe dehydration alone.

Question 1

During pediatric CPR, if a child remains unresponsive after 2 minutes of high-quality CPR in the context of cardiac arrest, what is the next appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Administer epinephrine

Answer

Continue CPR and reassess every 2 minutes

Answer

Attempt defibrillation

Answer

Insert an advanced airway

Question 2

A 6-month-old infant presents with a high fever, irritability, and a bulging fontanelle. Which immediate intervention is the most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Administer intravenous antibiotics immediately and perform lumbar puncture after stabilization

Answer

Lumbar puncture to evaluate for meningitis

Answer

Oral antipyretics and outpatient follow-up

Answer

CT scan of the head to evaluate for intracranial pressure

Question 3

A 4-year-old child presents with a high fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and swelling of the hands and feet. Laboratory findings show thrombocytosis and elevated inflammatory markers. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Kawasaki disease

Answer

Scarlet fever

Answer

Measles

Answer

Rheumatic fever

Question 4

What is the best immediate intervention for a conscious infant who is choking and unable to cry?

Accepted Answer

Back blows and chest thrusts

Answer

Finger sweep

Answer

Initiate CPR

Answer

Heimlich maneuver

Question 5

A 5-month-old infant presents with vomiting, diarrhea, and signs of dehydration. On examination, the infant has a sunken fontanelle and poor skin turgor. What is the next best step in management?

Accepted Answer

Oral rehydration solution

Answer

Intravenous fluids

Answer

Antibiotics

Answer

Antidiarrheal medications

Question 6

A 1-year-old child accidentally inhales a small piece of food and begins choking. The child is conscious but cannot cough effectively. What is the most appropriate immediate intervention?

Accepted Answer

Perform abdominal thrusts

Answer

Start chest compressions

Answer

Attempt to remove the object manually

Answer

Give back blows and chest thrusts

Question 7

What is the most appropriate first aid for an infant who is choking?

Accepted Answer

Back blows and chest thrusts

Answer

Mouth-to-mouth ventilation

Answer

Chest compressions

Answer

Abdominal thrusts

Question 8

During a pediatric advanced life support (PALS) course, the proper sequence of CPR for a single rescuer managing an unresponsive child in cardiac arrest is taught. What is the correct sequence according to current AHA guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Circulation, Airway, Breathing

Answer

Breathing, Circulation, Airway

Answer

Airway, Circulation, Breathing

Answer

Airway, Breathing, Circulation

Question 9

You find a 5-year-old child unresponsive and not breathing in a public park. After ensuring the scene is safe, what is the most appropriate first action in pediatric basic life support (BLS)?

Accepted Answer

Shout for help and activate emergency response

Answer

Start chest compressions immediately

Answer

Check for a pulse for no more than 10 seconds

Answer

Open the airway using the head-tilt-chin-lift maneuver

Question 10

Which clinical sign is the most reliable for diagnosing severe dehydration in a child?

Accepted Answer

Prolonged capillary refill time

Answer

Sunken eyes

Answer

Dry mouth

Answer

Increased heart rate

Pediatric Critical Care — MCQs

Pediatric Critical Care — MCQs

On this page

Practice by Chapter

Want unlimited practice?