Community-acquired pneumonia — MRCPCH FOP MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyRespiratoryCommunity-acquired pneumoniaMRCPCH FOP

A 5-year-old girl has fever, cough and right-sided chest pain. She has focal crackles at the right base, respiratory rate 36/min and oxygen saturation 95% in air. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Community-acquired pneumonia

Fever, cough, pleuritic pain and focal crackles are most consistent with community-acquired pneumonia. Viral wheeze would usually have widespread wheeze rather than focal crackles and pleuritic pain. Bronchiolitis is primarily an infant diagnosis. The pearl is that focal chest signs in a febrile child shift probability away from uncomplicated viral upper respiratory infection.

Reference: BTS Guidelines for community acquired pneumonia in children; NICE CKS Chest infections