Growth/Development — MCQs

A 3-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her parents for complaints of breast development and pubic hair growth for the past 6 months. She has no significant birth or medical history. The temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), the pulse is 88/min, and the respirations are 20/min. Physical examination shows enlarged breasts at Tanner stage 3 and pubic hair at stage 2. Height and weight are in the normal range. On GnRH stimulation testing, a luteinizing hormone (LH) response of < 5 IU/L is detected. What is the most appropriate next step in diagnosis?

A 3-year-old boy is brought to the physician because he is easily fatigued and has not gained weight. He eats 3 meals and has 3 to 4 bowel movements daily with bulky stools that float. He had recurrent episodes of sinusitis in infancy. He is at the 15th percentile for height and 5th percentile for weight. Examination shows pale conjunctivae. A few scattered expiratory crackles are heard in the thorax. There is abdominal distention. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's failure to thrive?

A 6-month-old girl is brought to the physician because of drooling and excessive crying for 3 days. She calms down when cuddled or with a pacifier in her mouth. She feeds well and has no vomiting or diarrhea. She was breastfed exclusively for 5 months. She is given no medications and was born at 39 weeks gestation via spontaneous vaginal delivery. She is up to date on all vaccines and is meeting all developmental milestones. At the clinic, her weight is 7.3 kg (16 lb 1 oz) and her height is 65.8 cm (25.9 in) in length. She appears irritable. Her pulse is 124/min, the respirations are 32/min, the blood pressure is 92/63 mm Hg, and the temperature is 36.8°C (98.2°F). On physical examination, she has no conjunctivitis, cervical lymphadenopathy, or pharyngeal erythema. Which element of the physical examination is most likely to be present in this patient?

A 1-month-old male infant is brought to the physician because of inconsolable crying for the past 3 hours. For the past 3 weeks, he has had multiple episodes of high-pitched unprovoked crying every day that last up to 4 hours and resolve spontaneously. He was born at term and weighed 2966 g (6 lb 9 oz); he now weighs 3800 g (8 lb 6 oz). He is exclusively breast fed. His temperature is 36.9°C (98.4°F) and pulse is 140/min. Examination shows a soft and nontender abdomen. The remainder of the examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 4-year-old girl is brought to the doctor by her mother with the complaint of hearing loss, which her mother noticed a few days ago when the girl stopped responding to her name. The mother is anxious and says, “I want my child to get better even if it requires admission to the hospital.” Her family moved to a 70-year-old family home in Flint, Michigan, in 2012. The girl has a known history of beta-thalassemia trait. She has never been treated for hookworm, as her mother states that they maintain “good hygiene standards” at home. On examination, the girl currently uses only 2-syllable words. She is in the 70th percentile for height and 50th for weight. A Rinne test reveals that the girl’s air conduction is greater than her bone conduction in both ears. She does not respond when the doctor calls her name, except when he is within her line of sight. Her lab parameters are: Hemoglobin 9.9 gm% Mean corpuscular volume 80 fl Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) 15.9% Serum ferritin 150 ng/ml Total iron binding capacity 320 µg/dL A peripheral smear shows a microcytic hypochromic anemia with basophilic stippling and a few target cells. Which of the following is the next best step in the management of this patient?

A 9-year-old healthy female presents to her pediatrician for a healthy child visit. She is doing well in school and has good relationships with her teachers, friends, and family. Her temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg, pulse is 85/min, and respirations are 16/min. On examination, a minimal amount of pubic hair is noted. Her breasts and papillae are slightly elevated with enlargement of the areolas. Which of the following is the most likely Tanner stage of development in this patient?

A boy with diabetic ketoacidosis is admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for closer monitoring. Peripheral venous access is established. He is treated with IV isotonic saline and started on an insulin infusion. This patient is at the highest risk for which of the following conditions in the next 24 hours?

A 3-day-old girl is brought to the general pediatrics clinic by her mother. She was the product of an uncomplicated, full-term, standard vaginal delivery after an uncomplicated pregnancy in which the mother received regular prenatal care. This morning, after changing the child's diaper, the mother noticed that the newborn had a whitish, non-purulent vaginal discharge. The mother has no other complaints, and the infant is eating and voiding appropriately. Vital signs are stable. Physical exam reveals moderate mammary enlargement and confirms the vaginal discharge. The remainder of the exam is unremarkable. What is the next step in management?

A 14-year-old boy presents to the office for a checkup. He is well-nourished and meets all developmental milestones. He denies any complaints, and you offer him counseling on adolescent issues. On examination, he appears to be a normal, healthy teenager. The only significant finding is the bilateral swelling of the tibial tuberosities. When asked about them, the patient denies trauma and states they are sore, especially when he runs or squats. Which of the following is the underlying cause of this finding?

A 9-month-old male infant is brought to his pediatrician by his mother with lethargy and decreased oral intake for one day. His mother also mentions that he did not sleep well the previous night. A review of the medical record reveals several missed appointments and that the boy was born at 36 weeks gestation via spontaneous vaginal delivery. At the clinic, his temperature is 37.2ºC (99.0ºF), pulse rate is 140/minute, respirations are 44/minute, and blood pressure is 92/60 mm Hg. On physical exam the infant is awake but irritable and the rest of the physical is within normal limits for his age. On ophthalmologic examination, there are multiple retinal hemorrhages that extend to the periphery in both eyes. Which of the following investigations is most likely to be helpful in the management of the infant?