skip to main content

Infant foreign body airway obstruction — DIPIMC MCQ

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

ModerateResuscitationInfant foreign body airway obstructionDIPIMCDipIMC

An 8-month-old infant is choking on a piece of food. The infant cannot cry, has an ineffective cough and is conscious but distressed.

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

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — Give five back blows then five chest thrusts

In a conscious infant with severe airway obstruction, the sequence is five back blows followed by five chest thrusts; abdominal thrusts are avoided in infants because of the risk of intra-abdominal organ injury. Using abdominal thrusts (A and B) is therefore incorrect for this age group. Remember that infants get chest thrusts, not abdominal thrusts.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK 2025 (paediatric choking)