Croup: ABFM practice questions

4 board-style questions on croup in the PulseMD family medicine question bank — physician-reviewed, written against current guidelines with the reference cited on each question. Two free samples below; the full set with answers, explanations, and spaced review is free to start.

Sample question 1

A 2-year-old boy presents to the emergency department at night with a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and hoarseness. His mother reports he had mild rhinorrhea and a low-grade fever over the past two days. On exam, his oxygen saturation is 97% on room air. What is the most likely diagnosis?

  1. Acute epiglottitis
  2. Croup (laryngotracheitis)
  3. Bacterial tracheitis
  4. Foreign body aspiration

Sample question 2

A 20-month-old boy presents to the emergency department with a 1-day history of barking cough, stridor at rest, and moderate suprasternal and intercostal retractions. His oxygen saturation is 94% on room air. He appears anxious but is consolable by his mother. You administer a single dose of oral dexamethasone 0.6 mg/kg. Thirty minutes later, he continues to have stridor at rest and significant retractions. What is the most appropriate next step?

  1. Administer nebulized racemic epinephrine
  2. Perform endotracheal intubation
  3. Obtain a lateral neck x-ray to rule out epiglottitis
  4. Administer a second dose of dexamethasone

Create a free PulseMD account to answer these, see the explanations, and practice five minutes a day.

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