Question Easy:
A 6-year-old girl is brought to the GP with itchy, red eyes upon waking every morning 🌞. There is no discharge, and her vision is unaffected. Her symptoms improve throughout the day. Which of the following is the most likely cause of her symptoms?
A) Bacterial conjunctivitis
B) Viral conjunctivitis
C) Allergic conjunctivitis
D) Dry eye syndrome
E) Keratitis
Question Medium:
A 65-year-old man presents with hearing loss in the right ear and occasional tinnitus. Upon examination, Weber’s test lateralises to the left ear, and Rinne’s test shows bone conduction greater than air conduction 🦻 on the right side. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Otosclerosis
B) Presbycusis
C) Conductive hearing loss
D) Ménière’s disease
E) Acoustic neuroma
Question Hard:
A 45-year-old woman presents with sudden, severe vertigo 🌀 associated with nausea and vomiting. There is no hearing loss or tinnitus. The vertigo worsens when she moves her head. She recently had an upper respiratory tract infection. What is the most probable diagnosis?
A) Vestibular neuritis
B) Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
C) Labyrinthitis
D) Ménière’s disease
E) Acoustic neuroma
Explanations & Answers:
Question Easy Answer: C
Question Easy Explanation: Allergic conjunctivitis is common in children and often triggered by allergens such as pollen, especially in the morning. The absence of discharge points towards allergies rather than infections. Antihistamines or mast cell stabilisers are usually effective, per NICE guidelines.
Question Medium Answer: C
Question Medium Explanation: Conductive hearing loss is evidenced by Weber’s test lateralising to the unaffected ear and Rinne’s indicating bone conduction is greater than air conduction. Common causes include otitis media with effusion or impacted cerumen.
Question Hard Answer: A
Question Hard Explanation: Vestibular neuritis is characterised by acute vertigo without hearing loss, typically following a viral infection. BPPV usually involves positional changes, but vestibular neuritis is more persistent and often follows an illness, aligning with the NHS guidelines.
Medical fact of the day: The most common cause of preventable blindness in the UK is glaucoma, which is why regular eye exams are crucial for early detection even when no symptoms are present.
Quote of the day: “In the hands of health care workers lies the power to heal, to comfort, and to light the way in the darkness of illness 🌟.”