Q.1 Which of the following is the most common bacterial cause of pharyngitis?
Streptococcus pyogenes
Staphylococcus aureus
Haemophilus influenzae
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Explanation - Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes is the most common bacterial cause of pharyngitis.
Correct answer is: Streptococcus pyogenes
Q.2 Which of the following is NOT typically a symptom of acute tonsillitis?
Sore throat
Fever
Enlarged tonsils
Hearing loss
Explanation - Hearing loss is not a direct symptom of tonsillitis; it may occur with middle ear infection but not tonsillitis alone.
Correct answer is: Hearing loss
Q.3 A 'hot potato voice' is characteristic of which throat condition?
Pharyngitis
Peritonsillar abscess
Laryngitis
Epiglottitis
Explanation - A muffled 'hot potato voice' is a hallmark of peritonsillar abscess due to swelling around the tonsil.
Correct answer is: Peritonsillar abscess
Q.4 Which of the following is the first-line antibiotic for streptococcal pharyngitis?
Azithromycin
Amoxicillin
Ceftriaxone
Clindamycin
Explanation - Amoxicillin or penicillin remains the first-line antibiotic for streptococcal throat infections.
Correct answer is: Amoxicillin
Q.5 Which throat disorder is associated with a barking cough in children?
Pharyngitis
Croup
Tonsillitis
Epiglottitis
Explanation - Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) is characterized by a barking cough due to airway inflammation.
Correct answer is: Croup
Q.6 Which virus is most commonly associated with infectious mononucleosis presenting with sore throat?
Cytomegalovirus
Epstein-Barr virus
Adenovirus
Influenza virus
Explanation - Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis, often with sore throat and lymphadenopathy.
Correct answer is: Epstein-Barr virus
Q.7 Stridor in a child with fever and drooling most likely suggests:
Epiglottitis
Tonsillitis
Pharyngitis
Croup
Explanation - Epiglottitis presents with stridor, drooling, and high fever, requiring urgent airway management.
Correct answer is: Epiglottitis
Q.8 The most common complication of untreated streptococcal pharyngitis is:
Acute rheumatic fever
Otitis media
Sinusitis
Peritonsillar abscess
Explanation - If untreated, streptococcal pharyngitis can trigger acute rheumatic fever due to immune cross-reactivity.
Correct answer is: Acute rheumatic fever
Q.9 Hoarseness of voice lasting more than two weeks should raise suspicion of:
Laryngitis
Pharyngeal abscess
Vocal cord nodule
Laryngeal carcinoma
Explanation - Persistent hoarseness beyond two weeks may indicate malignancy such as laryngeal carcinoma.
Correct answer is: Laryngeal carcinoma
Q.10 Which of the following is a typical feature of diphtheria?
Barking cough
Grayish pseudomembrane
Drooling
Trismus
Explanation - Diphtheria presents with a gray pseudomembrane over the tonsils and pharynx, which bleeds on removal.
Correct answer is: Grayish pseudomembrane
Q.11 In quinsy, the uvula typically deviates to which side?
Toward the affected side
Toward the healthy side
Does not deviate
Moves up and down only
Explanation - Peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) pushes the uvula toward the opposite, healthy side.
Correct answer is: Toward the healthy side
Q.12 Which condition presents with the classical triad of sore throat, fever, and posterior cervical lymphadenopathy?
Strep throat
Infectious mononucleosis
Tonsillitis
Epiglottitis
Explanation - The triad is typical for infectious mononucleosis caused by EBV infection.
Correct answer is: Infectious mononucleosis
Q.13 The most important investigation to confirm diphtheria is:
Chest X-ray
Throat swab culture
CBC
Serology
Explanation - Throat swab culture on selective medium confirms Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Correct answer is: Throat swab culture
Q.14 Kissing tonsils are most commonly seen in:
Chronic tonsillitis
Peritonsillar abscess
Acute tonsillitis
Hypertrophied tonsils
Explanation - Enlarged tonsils may meet in the midline, called 'kissing tonsils,' usually due to hypertrophy.
Correct answer is: Hypertrophied tonsils
Q.15 Which of the following is the drug of choice in diphtheria?
Erythromycin
Diphtheria antitoxin
Penicillin
Tetracycline
Explanation - Diphtheria antitoxin neutralizes circulating toxin and is the mainstay of treatment.
Correct answer is: Diphtheria antitoxin
Q.16 Which throat condition often presents with trismus (difficulty opening the mouth)?
Tonsillitis
Peritonsillar abscess
Epiglottitis
Laryngitis
Explanation - Peritonsillar abscess often causes trismus due to inflammation of the surrounding muscles.
Correct answer is: Peritonsillar abscess
Q.17 Which of the following is the commonest viral cause of pharyngitis?
Adenovirus
Epstein-Barr virus
Rhinovirus
Coronavirus
Explanation - Adenovirus is the most frequent viral cause of pharyngitis, often with conjunctivitis.
Correct answer is: Adenovirus
Q.18 Ludwig’s angina is a severe infection involving:
Pharynx
Tonsils
Floor of mouth
Soft palate
Explanation - Ludwig’s angina is a cellulitis of the submandibular space, involving the floor of the mouth.
Correct answer is: Floor of mouth
Q.19 Which of the following is the most dangerous complication of epiglottitis?
Otitis media
Septicemia
Airway obstruction
Bronchitis
Explanation - Epiglottitis may rapidly progress to life-threatening airway obstruction.
Correct answer is: Airway obstruction
Q.20 The typical causative organism of Vincent’s angina is:
Fusiform bacillus and spirochete
Streptococcus pyogenes
Staphylococcus aureus
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
Explanation - Vincent’s angina is caused by Fusiform bacillus and spirochete, leading to necrotizing gingivostomatitis.
Correct answer is: Fusiform bacillus and spirochete
Q.21 The mainstay of treatment in quinsy is:
Tonsillectomy
Needle aspiration or incision & drainage
Antiviral drugs
Supportive therapy only
Explanation - Quinsy requires drainage of pus along with antibiotics.
Correct answer is: Needle aspiration or incision & drainage
Q.22 Laryngopharyngeal reflux typically presents with:
Sore throat and hoarseness
Otalgia and nasal obstruction
Cough with sputum
Fever and trismus
Explanation - Reflux of gastric contents irritates the laryngopharynx, causing sore throat and hoarseness.
Correct answer is: Sore throat and hoarseness
Q.23 A child with stridor worsening at night but improving with cool air likely has:
Croup
Epiglottitis
Peritonsillar abscess
Foreign body aspiration
Explanation - Croup symptoms typically worsen at night and may improve with cool, moist air.
Correct answer is: Croup
Q.24 Which throat disorder is associated with fetid breath (halitosis)?
Chronic tonsillitis
Pharyngitis
Epiglottitis
Acute laryngitis
Explanation - Chronic tonsillitis can cause halitosis due to bacterial colonization in tonsillar crypts.
Correct answer is: Chronic tonsillitis
Q.25 The gold standard investigation for laryngeal carcinoma is:
Indirect laryngoscopy
Direct laryngoscopy with biopsy
CT scan
MRI
Explanation - Histopathological confirmation via biopsy under direct laryngoscopy is the gold standard.
Correct answer is: Direct laryngoscopy with biopsy