Practice Test Geeks(NCCPA) National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants Practice Test
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Pediatric Care Flashcards

7 cards from real NCCPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Pediatric Care flashcards as text

  1. A 9-month-old presents with recurrent Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis and absent B-cells on flow cytometry. Which immunodeficiency is MOST likely?

    Answer: X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)

    XLA is caused by BTK gene mutation resulting in B-cell maturation arrest, absent immunoglobulins, and recurrent bacterial infections starting after 6 months when maternal antibodies wane.

  2. A 14-year-old female presents with amenorrhea for 4 months, weight 15% below ideal body weight, lanugo hair, and bradycardia. The MOST critical initial lab to obtain is:

    Answer: Serum electrolytes and ECG

    In anorexia nervosa, electrolyte disturbances (especially hypokalemia) and QTc prolongation on ECG pose immediate life-threatening cardiac risks requiring urgent assessment.

  3. An 8-year-old with asthma uses his rescue inhaler more than twice weekly. What is the appropriate next management step?

    Answer: Initiate daily low-dose inhaled corticosteroid

    Use of SABA more than twice weekly defines persistent asthma, which requires step-up to daily controller therapy with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids per NAEPP guidelines.

  4. A 4-year-old is found to have a blood lead level of 5 µg/dL. What is the MOST appropriate initial action?

    Answer: Environmental investigation and dietary counseling (calcium, iron)

    At 5 µg/dL (the current CDC reference value), management focuses on identifying and eliminating lead sources and optimizing nutrition to reduce absorption, not pharmacologic chelation.

  5. A term neonate has a bilirubin of 22 mg/dL at 36 hours of life. Direct Coombs is positive and blood type is A+; mother is O-. What is the mechanism of hemolysis?

    Answer: ABO incompatibility with maternal anti-A IgG crossing the placenta

    ABO incompatibility occurs when an O-type mother has IgG anti-A antibodies that cross the placenta and hemolyze fetal A-type red blood cells.

  6. Which clinical feature BEST distinguishes bacterial meningitis from viral meningitis in a 6-year-old?

    Answer: Marked CSF leukocytosis >1000 cells/µL with >80% PMNs, low glucose, high protein

    Bacterial meningitis classically shows CSF with >1000 WBCs predominantly neutrophils, low glucose (<40 mg/dL), and elevated protein, distinguishing it from viral meningitis.

  7. A 2-year-old swallows a button battery. On X-ray it is in the esophagus. What is the correct management?

    Answer: Emergent endoscopic removal within 2 hours

    Esophageal button batteries require emergent removal within 2 hours because hydroxide generation from electrical current causes liquefactive necrosis and life-threatening esophageal injury.