Pediatric Medicine

(Includes Neonatology)
Refer: Ghai’s Essential Pediatrics: 8th edition/ IAP Textbook of pediatrics: 5th edition

Chapter- 1: Introduction to Pediatrics

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES: ---

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

Chapter-2: Normal growth and its disorders

ESSAYS:

1. Growth failure. [*describe growth chart, its uses in pediatric clinic and causes of growth failure]
2. Define failure to thrive in children. List the investigations in a 6-month-old baby with failure to
thrive. Indicate how to treat a 9-month-old baby with failure to thrive due to faulty feeding
technique.
3. Enumerate the factors affecting the growth and development in the post-natal period. Discuss
the growth and development of a one-year-old child. (TKMC)

SHORT NOTES:

1. Road-to-Health charts (growth chart) (***)

2. Age independent anthropometric measurements
3. Radiological assessment of age
4. Temporary dentition (**) [dental caries (not sure where this goes)] (both from TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Bone age
2. Physiological anemia of infancy (not sure where exactly)

Chapter-3: Development

ESSAYS:

1. Describe the growth and development of a child upto 2 years of age.

SHORT NOTES:

1. Temper tantrums
2. Milestones of development (**) [*important milestones in pediatric practice (TKMC)]
3. Breath holding spells (*****)
4. Adverse effects of TV viewing in children
5. Factors influencing growth and development
6. Pica in children
7. Autistic disorder
8. Developmental screening scales
9. Behavioral disorders (eveything)
10. ADHD
11. Learning disability (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

Chapter-4: Adolescent Health and Development

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES:

1. Psychological problems of adolescents

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Adolescent problems

Chapter-5: Fluid and Electrolyte balance

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES:

1. Hypokalemia in children and its management

2. Hypocalcemia [*clinical features and management in neonates and children]
3. Acidosis (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. ECG changes in hypokalemia

2. Diagnosis and treatment of hyperkalemia (**) [*management]
Chapter-6: Nutrition

ESSAYS:

1. Classify Protein Energy Malnutrition. Outline the clinical features, investigations and
management of a 4-year-old child weighing 7 kg with Marasmus. (**) [*classify malnutrition.
Clinical features, management and follow up of malnutrition]
2. How will you identify and evaluate a child with severe acute malnutrition? How will you
manage? Discuss complications and prevention. [*enumerate clinical features of kwashiorkor
(TKMC)]

SHORT NOTES:

1. Marasmus (***) [*grading]

2. Weaning (**)
3. Differences between kwashiorkar and marasmus (**)
4. Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)
1. Mid-arm circumference (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. 4 essential features of kwashiorkor

2. Nutritional recovery syndrome features
3. Amylase rich food (?)
4. Diet chart for a 1-year-old child
5. Bangle test
6. Role of dietary fibers in nutrition

Chapter-7: Micronutrients in Health and Disease

ESSAYS:

1. Nutritional rickets [*clinical features, diagnosis, and management]

SHORT NOTES:

1. Nutritional rickets (****) [*clinical features] [*X-Ray findings in active rickets] [*diagnosis and
management]
2. Vitamin A deficiency (**) [*signs, symptoms and management]
3. Non-nutritional rickets (**) [*vitamin D resistant rickets (refer other chapters also)]
4. Zinc deficiency in children

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Vitamin A (*****) [**prophylaxis] [*deficiency in children]

 2. Treatment of nutritional rickets (**) [*management of nutritional rickets]
3. Clinical features of Zn deficiency (**) [*role of Zn in children]

Chapter-8: Newborn infants

ESSAYS:

1. New-born presenting with seizures (**) [*etiology, investigations and management] [*define
seizure. Common causes of neonatal seizures. Investigations and treatment of seizures in a 10-
day-old neonate (part of CNS according to TKMC)]
2. Day-one jaundice in new- born (**) [*clinical features, investigations and management] [*causes
of jaundice in newborn period. Investigations and treatment in a case of Rh-incompatibility]
3. Define jaundice. What are the common causes of neonatal jaundice? How do you investigate
and treat a neonate of 20 days with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia?
4. Define and mention causes of prematurity. Write about hazards of pre-maturity. Mention care
given to a preterm baby weighing 1.6kg.
5. What are the causes of sepsis in the newborn period? Management and prevention of sepsis in
newborn.
6. Define preterm. Enumerate the causes of pre-term. Principles in management of a preterm
baby. (could not find it anywhere in the book) (***) [*etiology, complications, management]
[*define-normal term, preterm, LBW baby, IUGR baby. Describe care of a preterm baby in
hospital and at home]
7. Enumerate causes of respiratory distress in the newborn in first 24 hours of life. Meconium
aspiration syndrome [*diagnosis, management and complications]
8. Define prematurity. Discuss complications of prematurity. How will you manage hyaline
membrane disease?

SHORT NOTES:

1. Kernicterus (?)
2. Idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome in a new born (***) [*signs, symptoms and
management] [*respiratory distress syndrome in the newborn] [*prevention and management
of RDS in newborn]
3. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
4. Non shivering thermogenesis
5. Hemorrhagic disease of new-born (**)
6. First day jaundice in new born (***) [*management of hyperbilirubinemia in newborn]
[*jaundice in the newborn]
7. Birth asphyxia
8. Colostrum (refer nutrition also)
9. APGAR score and its significance in the evaluation of a newborn baby. (**)
10. Moro’s reflex
 11. Causes of convulsions in the new born period (**)
12. Causes of lactation failure
13. Kangaroo mother care (**)
14. Baby friendly hospital inititative (**)
15. Steps of successful breast feeding
16. Etiology of neonatal sepsis
17. Hypothermia of newborn
18. Breast feeding (*****) [**advantages] [**reflexes involved] [*exclusive breast feeding (TKMC)]
19. Phototherapy (**)
20. Meconium aspiration syndrome
21. Infant of a diabetic mother (**) (Pg.:181-Ghai)
22. Neonatal screening
23. Define apnea in newborn- causes and management
24. Medical fetal therapy for lung maturity
25. Umbilical sepsis (**) [*complications of umbilical cord sepsis] (TKMC)
26. Birth injuries (TKMC)
27. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Shake test
2. Triple test in newborn screening
3. 4 minor physiological problems in neonate
4. 4 factors that lessen breast milk production
5. Differences between physiological and pathological jaundice in newborn (**) [*physiological
jaundice in newborn]
6. Caput succedaneum (**) [*caput]
7. Causes of respiratory distress in newborn
8. Umbilical cord care
9. Principles of phototherapy (**)
10. Vitamin K in newborn
11. Kangaroo care
12. Baby friendly hospital initiative (BFHI) (**)
13. C/I to bag and mask ventilation (refer chapter-27 also)
14. Reasons for poor chest raise during bag and mask ventilation
15. Indirect markers of neonatal sepsis (**) [*sepsis screening in newborn]
16. APGAR score
17. Hypothermia in newborn- prevention
18. Cephalhematoma
19. Prevention of mother-to-child-transmisison of HBV in HBsAg +ve mothers (also refer chapter-10)
Chapter-9: Immunization and Immunodeficiency

ESSAYS:

SHORT NOTES:

1. Hepatits B vaccination
2. Oral polio vaccine (Pg.: 191)
3. Herd immunity
4. The cold chain (**) [*reverse cold chain]
5. Newer vaccines (***)
6. Varicella vaccine
7. Adolescent vaccines
8. National immunization schedule
9. Immunization in an infant born to a HIV +ve mother
10. MMR vaccine
11. Pneumococcal vaccine
12. Adverse events following immunization
13. Live attenuated vaccines (**) [*live vaccines]
14. Typhoid vaccine
15. HPV vaccine
16. Universal immunization programme (TKMC)
17. Varicella vaccine (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Four newer vaccines (**)

2. HPV vaccine
3. Reverse cold chain
4. Prevention of HIV transmission in pediatrics
5. Hepatitis B vaccination schedule (**) [just hepatitis B vaccine]
6. Vaccines in adolescent period
7. Acellular pertussis vaccine
8. Varicella vaccine
9. Anti-rabies vaccine

Chapter-10: Infections and Infestations

ESSAYS:

1. Tetanus. [*clinical features, complications, prevention and management]

2. Cerebral malaria [*clinical features, investigations and treatment in a child] (Pg.: 261)
 3. What is primary complex? Discuss natural course of primary complex. How will you investigate
and manage a child with primary complex? (***) [*define. Discuss manifestations. Investigations
and management of primary complex in a child] [*how does 10 tuberculosis differ from adult
tuberculosis]
4. List the common causes of pyrexia of unknown origin in children. Briefly indicate the
investigations for a child with prolonged fever for more than 2 weeks. Describe the specific
treatment for a 6-year-old child with falciparum malaria.
5. Mention common exanthematous fevers that you come across in pediatric age group. Discuss
clinical features, diagnosis, management and prevention of measles. (TKMC)

SHORT NOTES:

1. Round worm infestation [*clinical features and treatment]

2. Pediatric AIDS (****) [*prevention] [**pediatric HIV infection]
3. Black water fever
4. Measles (******) [**complications] [*D/B measles and german measles (TKMC)] [*vaccination
(TKMC)]
5. Cerebral malaria [*management]
6. Anti-malarial drugs [*toxicity]
7. WHO grading of DHF (dengue hemorrhagic fever)
8. HIV in a child of 90 days [*investigaitons]
9. Fate of primary complex (**) [*just primary complex (TKMC)]
10. Neonatal tetanus
11. Mantoux test
12. Eradication of poliomyelitis
13. Tuberculin skin test
14. Dengue shock syndrome
15. Hepatitis B infection
16. Exanthematous fever
17. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
18. Emerging viruses
19. Enteric fever [*diagnosis and management]
20. Investigation of HIV in a child of 90 days. (TKMC)
21. One-year-old baby with positive Mantoux (TKMC)
22. D/B diphtheria and follicular tonsillitis

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Components of primary complex

2. 4 complications of measles (**) [*just complications]
3. Treatment of pertussis
4. 4 complications of diphtheria
5. Treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis
 6. 4 common causes of fever with rash
7. Diagnosis of leptospirosis
8. Name anti-retroviral therapy drugs used in HIV positive pregnant women
9. Newer anti-malarials
10. Falciparum malaria complications
11. Investigations in dengue fever
12. Interferon gamma release assay
13. Oral candidiasis
14. Congenital rubella syndrome
15. Viral markers for hepatitis B

Chapter-11: Diseases of the Gastro-intestinal system and Liver

ESSAYS:

1. 2-year-old female child weighing 8.2kg brought to the health centre with complaints of vomiting
and diarrhea. Approach to child and management. (as part of infectious diseases in TKMC)
2. What is diarrhea? Etiopathogenesis, complications, investigations and management of acute
watery diarrhea with severe dehydration. (as part of infectious diseases in TKMC)
3. Define fulminant hepatic failure. Describe clinical presentation, complications, and
management.

SHORT NOTES:

1. Umbilical hernia
2. Wilson’s disease
3. ORS (****)[*composition. Advice for ORS administration in child with some dehydration] [*ORS
in AGE management]
4. Acute liver cell failure [*causes in children]
5. Gastro-esophageal reflux
6. Gastro-intestinal causes of abdominal pain
7. Extra-hepatic portal hypertension
8. Causes of splenomegaly (Pg.: 310- Ghai)
9. Management of constipation in children
10. Chronic diarrhea [*evaluation and management]

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. 4 common causes of persistent diarrhea

2. Oral rehydration therapy corner (?)
3. 2 key signs of dehydration.
4. Etiology of cirrhosis
 5. Causes of chronic diarrhea in children
6. Management of acute diarrhea
7. Clinical features of chronic liver disease
8. Oral rehydration solution (**) [*hypo-osmolar ORS]
9. GE reflux in children
10. Treatment of Wilson’s disease

Chapter-12: Hematological disorders

ESSAYS:

1. What are the stages of red blood corpuscles (RBCs)? Nutritional anemia (iron deficiency anemia)
[*clinical features, lab investigations and management of]
2. Thalassemia major. [*causes and clinical features of anemias of infancy. Discuss management of
Thalassemia major]

SHORT NOTES:

1. Thalassemia major (***) [*peripheral smear in thalassemia] [*management of thalassemia]

2. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (***) [*acute] [*management]
3. Platelet transfusion
4. Bone marrow examination in children (**) [*indications] [*importance of]
5. Peripheral smear studies in hematological disorders
6. Sickle cell crisis
7. D/B iron deficiency anemia and hemolytic anemia (TKMC)
2. D/D of child with epistaxis (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Iron deficiency anemia (****) [**peripheral smear] [*diagnosis of] [*microcytic hypochromic
anemia]
2. Peripheral smear in thalassemia major (**) [*diagnosis of thalassemia]
3. Vascular causes for bleeding

Chapter-13: Otolaryngology

ESSAYS, SHORT ANSWERS: ---

SHORT NOTES:

1. Otitis media [*complications]

2. D/D of a child with cervical lymphadenitis (TKMC) (not sure where this goes)
Chapter-14: Disorders of the Respiratory system

ESSAYS:

1. Common causes of acute bronchiolitis. Investigations and management of a 9-month-old child

with severe distress.

SHORT NOTES:

1. Status asthmaticus (**) [**management]

2. Components of kartagener syndrome
3. Atypical pneumonia in children
4. Treatment of acute bronchiolitis (**) [Acute bronchiolitis (TKMC)]
5. Pneumonia (**) [*staphylococcal pneumonia]
6. D/D in a 1-year-old child with acute respiratory distress and management (maybe neonatology
too)
7. Whooping cough (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Stepwise management of bronchial asthma (**) [*acute severe asthma management]

2. Common causes of wheezing in children
3. Clinical features of empyema thoracis
4. Exercise induced asthma

Chapter-15: Disorders of the Cardio-vascular system

ESSAYS:

1. Congestive cardiac failure in children. (**) [*causes, pathophysiology, clinical features and
management]
2. Acute rheumatic fever. (******) [*define. etiopathogenesis, clinical features and management
of rheumatic carditis] [*etiopathogenesis, clinical features, investigations, treatment and
prevention of rheumatic fever] [*etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, investigations,
management, complications and prevention] [*how would you treat a case of rheumatic fever
with carditis? Discuss the prognosis of such a case (TKMC)] [*rheumatic mitral stenosis (TKMC)]
3. Classify congenital heart diseases. Ventricular septal defect [*hemodynamics, assessment of
severity, its course and complications]

SHORT NOTES:

1. Acute rheumatic fever (***) [*management] [*rheumatic fever] [*acute rheumatic carditis
(TKMC)]
2. Cyanotic spells (****) [**management]
 3. Tetrology of Fallot (**) [*components]
4. Jugular venous pulse
5. Eisenmenger’s syndrome
6. Infective endocarditis (**) [*prophylaxis] [*treatment]
7. Rheumatic fever (**) [*prophylaxis]
8. Management of congestive heart failure (**) [*management of cardiac failure]

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. D/B cyanotic spell and breath holding spell

2. 4 types of shock (**) [*types]
3. Types of VSD
4. Common causes of childhood hypertension
5. Innocent systolic murmers
6. Digoxin toxicity

Chapter- 16: Disorders of Kidney and Urinary Tract

ESSAYS:

1. Nephrotic syndrome (******) [**minimal change disease]

[*etiology, clinical features, laboratory investigations and management]
[**clinical features, complications and management of nephrotic syndrome]
[*a 4-year-old child has been brought to the hospital with swollen face and limbs. Enumerate
the causes. What investigations are to be done? Discuss the management of nephrotic
syndrome] [*etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, complications and management of childhood
nephrotic syndrome]
2. Acute glomerulo-nephritis (**)
[*etiology, clinical manifestations, and management]
Mention 4 differential diagnosis of gross hematuria in a 4-year-old child. Define and classify
acute glomerulonephritis. Write clinical features and management of acute post-streptococcal
glomerulonephritis.

SHORT NOTES:

1. Posterior urethral valve

2. Acute renal failure (**) [**management]
3. Minimal change nephrotic syndrome (**) [*diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome]
4. Urine examination (**) [*in nephritis and nephrotic syndrome] (just urine examination is a short
note also)
5. Eneuresis (**) [*causes and management] [*nocturnal eneuresis]
 6. Renal biopsy in nephrotic syndrome [*Indications and contraindications]
7. Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
8. Complications and management of acute glomerulonephritis

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. 4 clinical features of acute glomerulo-nephritis

2. Nephrotic syndrome (**) [*definition] [*complications]
3. Steroid toxicity (Pg.: 481-Ghai)
4. Important causes of hematuria
5. Diagnosis of urinary tract infection
6. DMSA scan
7. Vescico-urethral reflex

Chapter-17: Endocrine and Metabolic disorders

ESSAYS:

1. What are the causes of proportionate dwarfism? Describe the features of endemic goiter,
investigations and its treatment.
2. Define dwarfism. D/D for dwarfism in a 12 year old female child (TKMC)

SHORT NOTES:

1. Cretinism (*****) [*cretin] [*laboratory diagnosis and treatment of congenital hypothyroidism]

[*congenital hypothyroidism]
2. 5 stages of sexual maturity rating (SMR) in girls
3. Cushing’s syndrome
4. Diabetes insipidus
5. Hormonal influence on growth
6. Childhood obesity
7. Proportionate short stature (***) [*D/D for short stature]

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Hypothyroidism (**) [*4 clinical features] [*neonatal screening]

2. Hypoglycemia
3. Cryptorchidism
4. Symptoms and signs of diabetic keto-acidosis
Chapter-18: Central Nervous System

ESSAYS:

1. Acute meningitis. (****)

[*etiology, clinical features, diagnostic techniques, complications and management in infants]
[*a 9-month-old infant comes to the hospital with fever and altered sensorium. List causes. How
will you investigate the case? Discuss the management of *acute bacterial meningitis]
[*etiopathogenesis, clinical features, complications, and management of bacterial meningitis]
2. TB meningitis in children [*clinical features, diagnosis and management]
3. Describe CSF circulation briefly. Hydrocephalus (***)
[*etiology, clinical features, management (in a new-born baby)]
[*common causes, diagnosis and treatment]
[*D/D for large head. Symptoms and signs of hydrocephalus in infants and children]
4. Define cerebral palsy. Etiopathogenesis, types, management, and D/D for cerebral palsy.
5. Discuss D/D for a child aged 1-year age brought to the hospital with H/O fever, unconsciousness,
and convulsions. How will you proceed with the management of ill child? (**) [*common causes
of convulsion in a one-year-old febrile infant. Outline the management (TKMC)]

SHORT NOTES:

1. Infantile spasms (Pg.: 559)

2. CSF in tubercular meningitis (***) [**diagnosis of tubercular meningitis]
3. Status epilepticus (***) [***management]
4. Pyogenic meningitis in a 1-year-old child [*management]
5. Reye syndrome
6. Phenobarbitone in pediatric practice (also as part of rational drug therapy)
7. Pseudotumor cerebri (**)
8. Common metabolic neuropathies
9. Management of febrile fits (***) [**febrile convulsions]
10. Hydrocephalus
11. D/B febrile convulsions and convulsions due to meningitis (TKMC)
12. Pyogenic meningitis (**) [*management in a one-year-old infant] (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Causes of pseudotumor cerebri

2. Causes of preventable mental retardation (**) [*mention 4]
3. Common organisms causing meningitis
4. Causes of acquired hydrocephalus
5. Early indicators of cerebral palsy
6. Tubercular meningitis (**) [*stages of] [* CSF findings
7. Management of status epilepticus
8. Neuro-imaging
Chapter-19: Neuromuscular disorders

ESSAYS:

1. An 8-month-old infant is brought with H/O weakness in right lower limb with fever x 5 days.
Discuss diagnosis, complications and management.
2. Discuss the etiology, clinical features, and D/D of common causes of acute flaccid paralysis.
Outline the management on one of the conditions (TKMC)

SHORT NOTES:

1. Acute flaccid paralysis (**) [*surveillance]

2. Duchenne muscular dystrophy

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

Chapter-20: Childhood Malignancies

ESSAYS:

1. Discuss the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and management of acute leukemias of childhood
(TKMC)

SHORT NOTES:

1. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia [*management]

2. Acute lymphatic leukemia (?)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (**) [*chemotherapy] [*classification]

Chapter-21: Rheumatological disorders

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES: ---

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Chapter-22: Genetic disorders

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES:

1. Down’s syndrome (*****) [**clinical features] [*genetics of] [*antenatal diagnosis of]
2. Genetic counseling (**)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. USG findings in Down’s syndrome antenatally

2. X-linked inheritance

Chapter-23: Inborn errors of metabolism

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES: ---

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

1. Galactosemia

Chapter-24: Eye disorders

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES:

1. Xerophthalmia [*WHO treatment schedule]

2. Xerosis (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

Chapter-25: Skin disorders

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES:

1. Scabies in children (**)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. 4 common skin problems in pediatrics

2. Use of ivermectin

Chapter-26: Poisonings, Injuries and Accidents

ESSAYS:

SHORT NOTES:

1. Snake envenomation
2. Kerosene poisoning (**)
3. Scorpion sting
4. Salicylate poisoning [*treatment]
5. Organo-phosphorus poisoning [*steps in treatment]

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Features of viper envenomation

2. Management of snake bite
3. Scorpion sting

Chapter-27: Pediatric Critical Care

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES: ---

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

Chapter-28: Common Medical Procedures

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES: ---

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

Chapter-29: Rational Drug Therapy

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES:

1. Cephalosporins (TKMC)

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

Chapter-30: Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES: ---

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

Chapter-31: Rights of Children

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES:

1. Five basic rights of a child

SHORT ANSWERS: ---

Chapter: Community pediatrics

ESSAYS: ---

SHORT NOTES:

1. RCH program (****)

2. National malaria eradication programme
3. Vitamin A prophylaxis programme
4. Perinatal mortality
5. Infant mortality rate (**)
6. ICDS (**) [*Integrated Child Development Services]
7. Acute respiratory tract infection control program (**)
SHORT ANSWERS:

1. RCH
2. Infant mortality rate
3. ICDS

Chapter-X: Unclassified

ESSAYS:

1. MAS. (could be malabsorption syndrome or meconium aspiration syndrome) [*etiology,

pathophysiology and management]

SHORT NOTES:

3. Under-5 clinics
4. Antenatal diagnosis
5. Anoxic spells (?) (classified under newborns but could also be cyanotic spells)
6. Diagnosis of AL (?)
7. Therapeutic hypothermia (?)

SHORT ANSWERS:

1. Erythema toxicorum (?)

2. Indications of intravenous immunoglobulins in children (**) [*uses]
3. LGA (?large for gestational age)
4. Ossification centres present in a full term newborn baby
5. Danger signs in young infant (?)
6. Quantitative buffy coat (?)
7. Leukotriene modifiers
Notes:
Interferon gamma release assay-

Test to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

It is based on the principle that the WBC's of a person infected with MTb will release IFNG in
response to synthetic Mtb antigen. There are 2 types: 1. Quanti-feron (measures IFN-gamma
directly) and 2. T-Spot test (detects the number of WBCs that will release IFN-gamma)

Procedure: collect the patient's blood, process it, mix with synthetic antigen and interpret the
result as positive, intermediate or negative.

The test aids in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but is not diagnostic (like
Mantoux)

Advantages: Results in 24 hours, prior BCG vaccination does not affect results (as compared to
Mantoux test)

Disadvantages: Cost, no data available if test can be applied in children less than 5-years of age
(Mantoux test can be used)

Important:

1. Newborn infants is a must read chapter

2. Most essay questions with a clinical scenario usually have an age to describe the
answers.
3. Short answers generally are the “weird” parts of the paper.

__________