AAP EXAM PREPARATION QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ASWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES Q &A 2026 |INSTANT DOWNLOAD
PDF
1. A 2-year-old presents with a barking cough, stridor, and
low-grade fever. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Bronchiolitis
B. Croup (laryngotracheitis)
C. Epiglottitis
D. Asthma
Rationale: Barking cough and stridor are classic signs of viral
croup in toddlers.
2. Which vaccines are typically given at 2 months of age?
A. DTaP
B. IPV (polio)
C. Hepatitis B
D. Varicella
E. MMR
Rationale: At 2 months, infants receive DTaP, IPV, HepB, Hib,
PCV13, and Rotavirus vaccines. Varicella and MMR are given
later.
3. A 6-month-old presents with failure to thrive, chronic
diarrhea, and a rash. Which is the most likely nutritional
deficiency?
,A. Vitamin D
B. Protein (Kwashiorkor/Marasmus)
C. Iron
D. Vitamin C
Rationale: Chronic diarrhea, growth failure, and rash suggest
protein-energy malnutrition.
4. The first-line treatment for otitis media in children is:
A. Amoxicillin
B. Ciprofloxacin
C. Amoxicillin
D. Azithromycin
Rationale: Amoxicillin is first-line unless the child has had
recent antibiotic exposure or allergy.
5. Which of the following are features of Kawasaki disease?
A. Fever >5 days
B. Conjunctival injection
C. Strawberry tongue
D. Cervical lymphadenopathy
E. Runny nose
Rationale: Classic Kawasaki disease presents with fever,
conjunctival injection, strawberry tongue, mucocutaneous
changes, and lymphadenopathy.
6. A 3-year-old presents with wheezing, cough, and dyspnea.
Which medications are appropriate for acute asthma
exacerbation?
A. Short-acting beta-agonist (albuterol)
,B. Corticosteroid inhaler (long-term)
C. Oral corticosteroids (prednisone)
D. Montelukast
Rationale: Acute management requires SABA and sometimes
oral steroids. Long-term controllers are not first-line in acute
attack.
7. What are indications for hospitalization in pediatric
pneumonia?
A. Mild cough
B. Respiratory distress
C. Oxygen saturation <90%
D. Mild fever
E. Dehydration
Rationale: Severe respiratory distress, hypoxia, or inability to
tolerate oral fluids require hospitalization.
8. Which of the following are common causes of iron-
deficiency anemia in children?
A. Premature birth
B. Excessive cow’s milk intake
C. Malaria
D. Vitamin C deficiency
E. Poor dietary intake of iron
Rationale: Premature infants have lower iron stores; cow’s milk
and poor iron intake are common causes in toddlers.
9. A 4-year-old has a sore throat, fever, and tonsillar exudate.
What is the most appropriate next step?
, A. Treat empirically with antibiotics
B. Perform rapid strep test or throat culture
C. Administer antipyretics only
D. Hospitalize immediately
Rationale: Diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis should be
confirmed with testing before antibiotics.
10. Which findings are consistent with dehydration in infants?
A. Sunken eyes
B. Dry mucous membranes
C. Tachypnea
D. Reduced urine output
Rationale: Sunken eyes, dry mouth, and decreased urine
output are classic signs of dehydration.
11. A 10-year-old presents with a limp and hip pain. Which
diagnosis must be ruled out first?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
C. Muscle strain
D. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Rationale: SCFE is an orthopedic emergency in adolescents
presenting with hip/knee pain.
12. Which are features of nephrotic syndrome in children?
A. Edema
B. Hematuria
C. Proteinuria
D. Hypertension (variable)
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ASWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES Q &A 2026 |INSTANT DOWNLOAD
1. A 2-year-old presents with a barking cough, stridor, and
low-grade fever. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Bronchiolitis
B. Croup (laryngotracheitis)
C. Epiglottitis
D. Asthma
Rationale: Barking cough and stridor are classic signs of viral
croup in toddlers.
2. Which vaccines are typically given at 2 months of age?
A. DTaP
B. IPV (polio)
C. Hepatitis B
D. Varicella
E. MMR
Rationale: At 2 months, infants receive DTaP, IPV, HepB, Hib,
PCV13, and Rotavirus vaccines. Varicella and MMR are given
later.
3. A 6-month-old presents with failure to thrive, chronic
diarrhea, and a rash. Which is the most likely nutritional
deficiency?
,A. Vitamin D
B. Protein (Kwashiorkor/Marasmus)
C. Iron
D. Vitamin C
Rationale: Chronic diarrhea, growth failure, and rash suggest
protein-energy malnutrition.
4. The first-line treatment for otitis media in children is:
A. Amoxicillin
B. Ciprofloxacin
C. Amoxicillin
D. Azithromycin
Rationale: Amoxicillin is first-line unless the child has had
recent antibiotic exposure or allergy.
5. Which of the following are features of Kawasaki disease?
A. Fever >5 days
B. Conjunctival injection
C. Strawberry tongue
D. Cervical lymphadenopathy
E. Runny nose
Rationale: Classic Kawasaki disease presents with fever,
conjunctival injection, strawberry tongue, mucocutaneous
changes, and lymphadenopathy.
6. A 3-year-old presents with wheezing, cough, and dyspnea.
Which medications are appropriate for acute asthma
exacerbation?
A. Short-acting beta-agonist (albuterol)
,B. Corticosteroid inhaler (long-term)
C. Oral corticosteroids (prednisone)
D. Montelukast
Rationale: Acute management requires SABA and sometimes
oral steroids. Long-term controllers are not first-line in acute
attack.
7. What are indications for hospitalization in pediatric
pneumonia?
A. Mild cough
B. Respiratory distress
C. Oxygen saturation <90%
D. Mild fever
E. Dehydration
Rationale: Severe respiratory distress, hypoxia, or inability to
tolerate oral fluids require hospitalization.
8. Which of the following are common causes of iron-
deficiency anemia in children?
A. Premature birth
B. Excessive cow’s milk intake
C. Malaria
D. Vitamin C deficiency
E. Poor dietary intake of iron
Rationale: Premature infants have lower iron stores; cow’s milk
and poor iron intake are common causes in toddlers.
9. A 4-year-old has a sore throat, fever, and tonsillar exudate.
What is the most appropriate next step?
, A. Treat empirically with antibiotics
B. Perform rapid strep test or throat culture
C. Administer antipyretics only
D. Hospitalize immediately
Rationale: Diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis should be
confirmed with testing before antibiotics.
10. Which findings are consistent with dehydration in infants?
A. Sunken eyes
B. Dry mucous membranes
C. Tachypnea
D. Reduced urine output
Rationale: Sunken eyes, dry mouth, and decreased urine
output are classic signs of dehydration.
11. A 10-year-old presents with a limp and hip pain. Which
diagnosis must be ruled out first?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
C. Muscle strain
D. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Rationale: SCFE is an orthopedic emergency in adolescents
presenting with hip/knee pain.
12. Which are features of nephrotic syndrome in children?
A. Edema
B. Hematuria
C. Proteinuria
D. Hypertension (variable)
