Adult Primary Care Exam Questions and Answers (150+ Questions) 2026-2027 - Practice Questions & Verified Answers
Causes of viral rhinitis #1 Rhinovirus
Coronavirus
Influenza virus
Adenovirus
What should you be worried about with viral rhinitis with Their viral rhinitis may develop into pneumonia
smokers, elderly or immunocompromised?
Symptoms of viral rhinitis Rhinorrhea
PND causing cough
Sore throat
Cough
Low grade fever, chills
Muscle aches
Headaches
Treatments for viral rhinitis Decongestations
Expectorants, antitussives
Antipyretics
Antihistamines (H2 blocker preferred)
Rest and FLUIDS
What do you want to know r/t allergic rhinitis and Taking Afrin? Risk of rebound congestion
medications?
What should you suspect with someone who has allergic That they have a secondary bacterial infection --> often progresses to sinusitis
rhinitis and a fever and/or purulent drainage?
What can longstanding allergies cause? Adenoidal hypertrophy which can increase asthma risk
What do you think when a person has blue, boggy, Allergic rhinitis
edematous turbinates?
What are Dennie's lines? An infraorbital fold indicative of allergic rhinitis
What can alleviate allergic shiners? 2nd generation antihistamines; topical nasal steroids
Treatment for allergic rhinitis? **Allergen avoidance
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Topical nasal steroids (e.g. Rhinocort/Nasocort)
Hydration
With what condition is IgE elevated? With what condition is Elevated = allergic rhinitis
it normal? Normal = vasomotor rhinitis
, Adult Primary Care Exam Questions and Answers (150+ Questions) 2026-2027 - Practice Questions & Verified Answers
What would you expect when someone complains of nasal Vasomotor rhinitis
congestion/discharge that came on suddenly after
exposure to stimuli and they have pale or hyperemic
turbinates?
What might you suspect after someone has had viral Sinusitis
rhinitis for over a week (7-10 days)?
Most common pathogens causing sinusitis Strep pneumoniae
H. flu
M. catarrhalis
What would make you suspect acute sinusitis over a URI? 1) Symptoms that last over 10 days
2) Onset with severe symptoms fever (>101), purulent nasal drainage for at least 3-
4 days at beginning of illness
3) Double-sickness: URI seems to be improving but suddenly symptoms worsen
around 5-6 days
How quickly should antibiotics work with acute sinusitis? In 24-48 hrs
How long may a patient with chronic sinusitis need to be 3-4 weeks
on abx?
How long do symptoms typically persist with chronic >3 months
sinusitis?
What may you suspect when patient has facial pain that Sinusitis (pain is worse when leaning over especially with maxillary sinusitis)
worsens when he or she leans forward and/or halitosis?
What diagnostic testing would you do with sinusitis? Usually none -- may need to do Water's view X-ray, allergy testing, would not do CT
scan
How long would you treat acute sinusitis? 3-4 weeks
What do you use to treat sinusitis? Augmenting (amoxicillian + clavulanic acid)
Hallmark sign of otits externa Very painful -- pinna and triages sign
#1 causative agent of otitis externa Pseudomonas
What medication should be avoided with sinusitis? Antihistamines (unless they have allergies as well) -- will slow the movement of
secretions
Causes of viral rhinitis #1 Rhinovirus
Coronavirus
Influenza virus
Adenovirus
What should you be worried about with viral rhinitis with Their viral rhinitis may develop into pneumonia
smokers, elderly or immunocompromised?
Symptoms of viral rhinitis Rhinorrhea
PND causing cough
Sore throat
Cough
Low grade fever, chills
Muscle aches
Headaches
Treatments for viral rhinitis Decongestations
Expectorants, antitussives
Antipyretics
Antihistamines (H2 blocker preferred)
Rest and FLUIDS
What do you want to know r/t allergic rhinitis and Taking Afrin? Risk of rebound congestion
medications?
What should you suspect with someone who has allergic That they have a secondary bacterial infection --> often progresses to sinusitis
rhinitis and a fever and/or purulent drainage?
What can longstanding allergies cause? Adenoidal hypertrophy which can increase asthma risk
What do you think when a person has blue, boggy, Allergic rhinitis
edematous turbinates?
What are Dennie's lines? An infraorbital fold indicative of allergic rhinitis
What can alleviate allergic shiners? 2nd generation antihistamines; topical nasal steroids
Treatment for allergic rhinitis? **Allergen avoidance
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Topical nasal steroids (e.g. Rhinocort/Nasocort)
Hydration
With what condition is IgE elevated? With what condition is Elevated = allergic rhinitis
it normal? Normal = vasomotor rhinitis
, Adult Primary Care Exam Questions and Answers (150+ Questions) 2026-2027 - Practice Questions & Verified Answers
What would you expect when someone complains of nasal Vasomotor rhinitis
congestion/discharge that came on suddenly after
exposure to stimuli and they have pale or hyperemic
turbinates?
What might you suspect after someone has had viral Sinusitis
rhinitis for over a week (7-10 days)?
Most common pathogens causing sinusitis Strep pneumoniae
H. flu
M. catarrhalis
What would make you suspect acute sinusitis over a URI? 1) Symptoms that last over 10 days
2) Onset with severe symptoms fever (>101), purulent nasal drainage for at least 3-
4 days at beginning of illness
3) Double-sickness: URI seems to be improving but suddenly symptoms worsen
around 5-6 days
How quickly should antibiotics work with acute sinusitis? In 24-48 hrs
How long may a patient with chronic sinusitis need to be 3-4 weeks
on abx?
How long do symptoms typically persist with chronic >3 months
sinusitis?
What may you suspect when patient has facial pain that Sinusitis (pain is worse when leaning over especially with maxillary sinusitis)
worsens when he or she leans forward and/or halitosis?
What diagnostic testing would you do with sinusitis? Usually none -- may need to do Water's view X-ray, allergy testing, would not do CT
scan
How long would you treat acute sinusitis? 3-4 weeks
What do you use to treat sinusitis? Augmenting (amoxicillian + clavulanic acid)
Hallmark sign of otits externa Very painful -- pinna and triages sign
#1 causative agent of otitis externa Pseudomonas
What medication should be avoided with sinusitis? Antihistamines (unless they have allergies as well) -- will slow the movement of
secretions
