PACKRAT Exam Questions and Answers
|Fall 2025/2026 Update | 100% Correct
Exam
A 16 year old has just moved schools. He is quiet, moody and not like himself at all.
Within six months he seems to have completely changed back to his previous
personality. What is the most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as
Adjustment disorder
What is the prophylactic antibiotic most commonly given before a dental procedure if
one is necessary? - __100% correct answer as Amoxicillin 2 grams po 1 hour
before procedure
Wilson's disease is associated with a build up of what mineral? - __100% correct
answer as There is a deficiency of the copper binding protein and therefore a buildup
of copper.
Name one oral medication that can be used for MRSA. - __100% correct answer
as Linezolid (Zyvox) and Bactrim
Which cardiac medication is used to help with cardiac contractility after you have
optimized most of the other cardiac medications? - __100% correct answer as
Digoxin
What medication used in hepatitis B infection helps prevent the need for liver
transplant? - __100% correct answer as Lamivudine
How is celiac disease most commonly diagnosed? - __100% correct answer as
Endoscopic biopsy Mononucleosis
A 14 year old field hockey player presents with prominent adenopathy, white purple
exudates in the throat and a palpable spleen. What is the most likely diagnosis? -
__100% correct answer as Wernicke's aphasia
A patient presents with what appears to be an inability to understand speech. Which
aphasia should be at the top of your differential? - __100% correct answer as It is
blood in the joint indicating a fracture even if the fracture line cannot be seen.
,A fat pad sign on a lateral x-ray of the elbow has what significance? - __100%
correct answer as It is blood in the joint indicating a fracture even if the fracture line
cannot be seen.
A corkscrew appearance on barium study should make you think of what diagnosis? -
__100% correct answer as Esophageal spasms
What is the treatment for Turner's syndrome? - __100% correct answer as
Cyclical estrogen and progesterone
What is the gold standard for diagnosing myocarditis? - __100% correct answer
as Myocardial biopsy
By what age should a child be able to hold up her head? - __100% correct answer
as 3 months
On physical exam, you notice ulnar deviations and swan neck deformities. What is the
most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as Rheumatoid arthritis
What is the most accurate way to diagnose urethritis? - __100% correct answer as
Urine PCR
You hear a loud harsh holosystolic murmur in a child. It is heard best at the LLSB. What
is the most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as Ventricular septal defect
The accessory pathway known as the James bundle should make you think of what
syndrome? - __100% correct answer as Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome
A Blalock procedure is used to correct what congenital heart condition? - __100%
correct answer as Tetralogy of Fallot
What medication can be used to control bleeding due to uterine atony? - __100%
correct answer as Oxytocin (Pitocin)
What is the most common cause of a folate deficiency? - __100% correct answer
as Alcoholism
List three risk factors for placental abruption. - __100% correct answer as HTN,
smoking, AMA, cocaine use, PROM
,What ejection fraction is typical for a patient with CHF? - __100% correct answer
as 35-40%
What is the major concern with using lithium? - __100% correct answer as It has a
very narrow therapeutic window. Blood tests are needed every four weeks.
List the four most common places lung cancer will metastasize to. - __100% correct
answer as Bone, brain, adrenals and liver
What is the main risk factor for esophagitis? - __100% correct answer as
Immunocompromised patient
An EKG shows a regular rate of 50 beats per minute. The QRS is narrow and there is
no visible P wave. What is the most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as
Junctional rhythm
List two diagnoses which require antibiotic prophylaxis for "dirty procedures?" -
__100% correct answer as Prosthetic valve, valve repair with any prosthetic
material, prior endocarditis diagnosis, congential cyanotic heart defect
Does a patient with mitral valve prolapse require prophylactic antibiotics for dental
work? - __100% correct answer as No, a recent change moves mitral valve
prolapse from high risk to moderate risk.
A pregnant woman and cat litter should make you think of what diagnosis? - __100%
correct answer as Toxoplasmosis
What two valvular issues do patients with Marfan's syndrome often have? - __100%
correct answer as Aortic regurgitation and mitral valve prolapse (you can tell them
apart by where they are heard).
What is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death? - __100% correct
answer as Ventricular fibrillation
A positive straight leg test indicates what diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as
Herniated disc
What two psychiatric issues are more common in males than females? - __100%
correct answer as Autism and ADD, the rest are all either equal or more common in
females.
, How long must symptoms last before diagnosing ADD? - __100% correct answer
as 6 months
What are the two most common organisms responsible for cellulitis? - __100%
correct answer as Strep and Staph
Does total lung capacity go up or down in COPD? What organism causes Lyme
disease? - __100% correct answer as It goes up.
What organism is most commonly responsible for community acquired pneumonia? -
__100% correct answer as Borrelia burgdorferi
An EEG showing focal rhythmic discharges at the onset of the seizure should make you
think of what diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as Strep pneumoniae
What is the normal range for MCV? - __100% correct answer as Simple partial
seizure
A patient's lab work shows positive Smith antibody and positive double-stranded DNA
antibodies. What is the most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as 80-100
Lupus
You hear a continuous machine-like murmur. What is the most likely diagnosis? -
__100% correct answer as Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
How do you administer the Weber hearing test? - __100% correct answer as
Tuning fork placed in the middle of the forehead
By what age should a child be able to kick a ball? - __100% correct answer as 24
months
A 6 year old boy seems to have all of the symptoms of ADD while at school, but at
home he has no problems. Does he have ADD? - __100% correct answer as No,
symptoms must occur in both settings for diagnosis.
Duchenne's and Becker's muscular dystrophy have what genetic characteristic? -
__100% correct answer as X-linked recessive
Why is folic acid given as a prenatal vitamin? - __100% correct answer as Low
folic acid can lead to neural tube defects.
|Fall 2025/2026 Update | 100% Correct
Exam
A 16 year old has just moved schools. He is quiet, moody and not like himself at all.
Within six months he seems to have completely changed back to his previous
personality. What is the most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as
Adjustment disorder
What is the prophylactic antibiotic most commonly given before a dental procedure if
one is necessary? - __100% correct answer as Amoxicillin 2 grams po 1 hour
before procedure
Wilson's disease is associated with a build up of what mineral? - __100% correct
answer as There is a deficiency of the copper binding protein and therefore a buildup
of copper.
Name one oral medication that can be used for MRSA. - __100% correct answer
as Linezolid (Zyvox) and Bactrim
Which cardiac medication is used to help with cardiac contractility after you have
optimized most of the other cardiac medications? - __100% correct answer as
Digoxin
What medication used in hepatitis B infection helps prevent the need for liver
transplant? - __100% correct answer as Lamivudine
How is celiac disease most commonly diagnosed? - __100% correct answer as
Endoscopic biopsy Mononucleosis
A 14 year old field hockey player presents with prominent adenopathy, white purple
exudates in the throat and a palpable spleen. What is the most likely diagnosis? -
__100% correct answer as Wernicke's aphasia
A patient presents with what appears to be an inability to understand speech. Which
aphasia should be at the top of your differential? - __100% correct answer as It is
blood in the joint indicating a fracture even if the fracture line cannot be seen.
,A fat pad sign on a lateral x-ray of the elbow has what significance? - __100%
correct answer as It is blood in the joint indicating a fracture even if the fracture line
cannot be seen.
A corkscrew appearance on barium study should make you think of what diagnosis? -
__100% correct answer as Esophageal spasms
What is the treatment for Turner's syndrome? - __100% correct answer as
Cyclical estrogen and progesterone
What is the gold standard for diagnosing myocarditis? - __100% correct answer
as Myocardial biopsy
By what age should a child be able to hold up her head? - __100% correct answer
as 3 months
On physical exam, you notice ulnar deviations and swan neck deformities. What is the
most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as Rheumatoid arthritis
What is the most accurate way to diagnose urethritis? - __100% correct answer as
Urine PCR
You hear a loud harsh holosystolic murmur in a child. It is heard best at the LLSB. What
is the most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as Ventricular septal defect
The accessory pathway known as the James bundle should make you think of what
syndrome? - __100% correct answer as Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome
A Blalock procedure is used to correct what congenital heart condition? - __100%
correct answer as Tetralogy of Fallot
What medication can be used to control bleeding due to uterine atony? - __100%
correct answer as Oxytocin (Pitocin)
What is the most common cause of a folate deficiency? - __100% correct answer
as Alcoholism
List three risk factors for placental abruption. - __100% correct answer as HTN,
smoking, AMA, cocaine use, PROM
,What ejection fraction is typical for a patient with CHF? - __100% correct answer
as 35-40%
What is the major concern with using lithium? - __100% correct answer as It has a
very narrow therapeutic window. Blood tests are needed every four weeks.
List the four most common places lung cancer will metastasize to. - __100% correct
answer as Bone, brain, adrenals and liver
What is the main risk factor for esophagitis? - __100% correct answer as
Immunocompromised patient
An EKG shows a regular rate of 50 beats per minute. The QRS is narrow and there is
no visible P wave. What is the most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as
Junctional rhythm
List two diagnoses which require antibiotic prophylaxis for "dirty procedures?" -
__100% correct answer as Prosthetic valve, valve repair with any prosthetic
material, prior endocarditis diagnosis, congential cyanotic heart defect
Does a patient with mitral valve prolapse require prophylactic antibiotics for dental
work? - __100% correct answer as No, a recent change moves mitral valve
prolapse from high risk to moderate risk.
A pregnant woman and cat litter should make you think of what diagnosis? - __100%
correct answer as Toxoplasmosis
What two valvular issues do patients with Marfan's syndrome often have? - __100%
correct answer as Aortic regurgitation and mitral valve prolapse (you can tell them
apart by where they are heard).
What is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death? - __100% correct
answer as Ventricular fibrillation
A positive straight leg test indicates what diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as
Herniated disc
What two psychiatric issues are more common in males than females? - __100%
correct answer as Autism and ADD, the rest are all either equal or more common in
females.
, How long must symptoms last before diagnosing ADD? - __100% correct answer
as 6 months
What are the two most common organisms responsible for cellulitis? - __100%
correct answer as Strep and Staph
Does total lung capacity go up or down in COPD? What organism causes Lyme
disease? - __100% correct answer as It goes up.
What organism is most commonly responsible for community acquired pneumonia? -
__100% correct answer as Borrelia burgdorferi
An EEG showing focal rhythmic discharges at the onset of the seizure should make you
think of what diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as Strep pneumoniae
What is the normal range for MCV? - __100% correct answer as Simple partial
seizure
A patient's lab work shows positive Smith antibody and positive double-stranded DNA
antibodies. What is the most likely diagnosis? - __100% correct answer as 80-100
Lupus
You hear a continuous machine-like murmur. What is the most likely diagnosis? -
__100% correct answer as Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
How do you administer the Weber hearing test? - __100% correct answer as
Tuning fork placed in the middle of the forehead
By what age should a child be able to kick a ball? - __100% correct answer as 24
months
A 6 year old boy seems to have all of the symptoms of ADD while at school, but at
home he has no problems. Does he have ADD? - __100% correct answer as No,
symptoms must occur in both settings for diagnosis.
Duchenne's and Becker's muscular dystrophy have what genetic characteristic? -
__100% correct answer as X-linked recessive
Why is folic acid given as a prenatal vitamin? - __100% correct answer as Low
folic acid can lead to neural tube defects.
