9/19/25, 5:02 AM APEA Exam 2025-2026
APEA Actual Exam Preparation Newest Version
2025/2026 Complete Questions And Correct
Detailed Answers (Verified Answers) |Already
Graded A+
A 67-year-old woman with Regular use of an antacid.
atrial fibrillation and an Antacids can interfere with the absorption of digoxin in the
gastrointestinal tract,
ejection fraction of 48% is
leading to lower blood levels of the drug. If a patient
on digoxin and has had
begins using antacids regularly, it could reduce the
normal digoxin levels of 0.8-
absorption of digoxin and therefore lower its blood
2 ng/dl for the past 9 months.
concentration, as seen in this case.
Today, the level is 0.4 ng/dl. The other options listed are less likely to be directly
What could account for this responsible for a decrease in digoxin levels. Increased
change? exercise and weight loss can have various health
1) Regular use of an antacid
effects, but they do not typically result in decreased
2) Increased exercise
digoxin levels. Decreased creatinine
3) Weight loss
4) Decreased creatinine
clearance, indicative of reduced kidney function, would
clearance more likely increase digoxin levels due to reduced
excretion of the drug, not decrease them.
Antihistamines.
Which medication is Antihistamines are typically not recommended for
contraindicated in a child treating acute sinusitis, especially in children. They can
with acute sinusitis? thicken mucus and potentially worsen sinus drainage,
1) Nasal steroids
which can exacerbate the symptoms of sinusitis. The
2) Decongestants
other medications listed - nasal steroids,
3) Expectorants
decongestants, and expectorants - are often used to
4) Antihistamines
manage the symptoms of sinusitis, although their use
and effectiveness can vary depending on the individual
case and age of the child. It's always important to
consult with a healthcare provider for the appropriate
treatment, particularly for children.
/ 1/7
9
,9/19/25, 5:02 AM APEA Exam 2025-2026
Which best describes the Dull aching or cramping.
lower extremity calf pain This type of pain, often referred to as claudication,
associated with peripheral occurs due to inadequate blood flow to the muscles
artery disease? during exercise or exertion, leading to aching,
1) Electric shock cramping, or fatigue in the muscles. The pain typically
2) Pulsating pain
resolves with rest, as this reduces the
3) Sharp, stabbing pain
muscular demand for oxygen and blood flow.
4) Dull aching or cramping
Peripheral artery disease commonly affects the arteries
in the legs, leading to these symptoms during activities
like
walking.
Heart failure.
Jugular venous distention JVD is a sign of increased pressure in the right side of
accompanied by chest pain the heart, which often occurs in heart failure. When the
is associated with: heart is unable to pump efficiently, blood may back up
1) Hypertension
into the veins, causing the jugular veins in the neck to
2) Asthma
swell (JVD). Chest pain in heart
3) Pneumonia
failure can occur due to the heart struggling to function
4) Heart failure
properly under increased strain. While other conditions
like hypertension, asthma, and pneumonia have their
own distinct symptoms, they are not typically associated
with JVD accompanied by chest pain in the same way
as heart failure.
/ 2/7
9
,9/19/25, 5:02 AM APEA Exam 2025-2026
Which immunization protects Hepatitis B.
against a virus that is The Hepatitis B vaccine provides protection against the Hepatitis B
virus, which is
transmitted through blood
transmitted through blood and body fluids. Chronic
and body fluids and can
infection with this virus can lead to serious conditions
lead to chronic liver
such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. The Hepatitis B
disease?
1) Hepatitis C
vaccine is an effective way to prevent these
2) Typhoid fever vaccine complications.
3) Hepatitis A
4) Hepatitis B
A pediatric patient has areas Tinea capitis.
of scaling on the scalp with Tinea capitis, commonly known as scalp ringworm, is a
round patches of hair loss. fungal infection of the scalp. It typically presents with
What is the likely diagnosis? scaly, circular areas of hair loss and may be
1) Alopecia areata accompanied by itching. It is common in children and is
2) Trichotillomania
treated with antifungal medications. The presence of
3) Tinea capitis
scaling is particularly indicative of a fungal infection
4) Seborrheic dermatitis
rather than the
other conditions listed.
Your 70-year-old patient Pernicious anemia due to insufficient intrinsic factor.
complains of a Pernicious anemia, a type of vitamin B12 deficiency, often presents
sore mouth that prevents her with oral
from eating. On exam, you symptoms, including a sore and red tongue (often
note a beefy red, glossy described as "beefy red") and mouth soreness. This
smooth tongue. What do condition occurs due to a lack of intrinsic factor, which
you suspect? is
1) Cheilosis, a serious disease essential for the absorption of vitamin B12. Older adults
of the mouth and are more commonly affected by pernicious anemia, and
oropharynx it can lead to various symptoms, including those
2) Secondary hypothyroidism affecting the mouth and gastrointestinal tract.
3) Pernicious anemia due
to insufficient intrinsic
factor
4) A neurological
disorder such as
Parkinson's disease
/ 3/7
9
, 9/19/25, 5:02 AM APEA Exam 2025-2026
Spinal stenosis.
Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal
A 62-year-old male presents narrows, putting pressure on the nerves. This pressure
with leg pain and occasional can lead to symptoms like pain and numbness in the legs,
numbness that is worse with which typically worsen when walking (especially
ambulation and improved walking a long distance or downhill) and
with lumbar improve with lumbar flexion or sitting. Lumbar flexion
flexion. What is the likely
diagnosis? enlarges the spinal canal space, thereby reducing the
1) Ankylosing spondylitis pressure on the nerves.
2) Cauda equina syndrome The other conditions listed have different typical presentations:
Ankylosing
3) Bursitis
spondylitis often presents with chronic low back pain
4) Spinal stenosis
and stiffness, Cauda equina syndrome is a more acute
and severe condition typically marked by severe back
pain, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and potentially
significant lower extremity weakness, and Bursitis
typically presents with localized joint pain and does
not
typically involve neurological symptoms like numbness.
Persistent vomiting.
Which is not typical While persistent vomiting can be a symptom of various
symptom of late stage HIV? medical conditions, it is not specifically characteristic of
1) Lymphadenopathy of more
that 3 months late-stage HIV. In contrast, the other symptoms listed -
2) Persistent vomiting lymphadenopathy lasting more than three months,
3) Night sweats night sweats, and persistent, unexplained fatigue - are
4) Persistent, unexplained more commonly associated with late-stage HIV. These
fatigue symptoms often reflect the weakened immune system and the
increased
vulnerability to opportunistic infections and other
conditions that accompany the advanced stages of HIV
infection.
Decrease in systemic vascular resistance.
A pregnant patient presents During pregnancy, there is a natural decrease in systemic
for her 16- week prenatal vascular resistance. This is primarily due to the
visit. Her blood pressure had hormonal changes that lead to vasodilation and an
reduced from 118/79 to increased
109/68. What hemodynamic blood flow to support the growing fetus. This
change is responsible for vasodilation can result in a decrease in blood pressure,
this? as seen in this patient. It is a normal physiological
/ 4/7
9
APEA Actual Exam Preparation Newest Version
2025/2026 Complete Questions And Correct
Detailed Answers (Verified Answers) |Already
Graded A+
A 67-year-old woman with Regular use of an antacid.
atrial fibrillation and an Antacids can interfere with the absorption of digoxin in the
gastrointestinal tract,
ejection fraction of 48% is
leading to lower blood levels of the drug. If a patient
on digoxin and has had
begins using antacids regularly, it could reduce the
normal digoxin levels of 0.8-
absorption of digoxin and therefore lower its blood
2 ng/dl for the past 9 months.
concentration, as seen in this case.
Today, the level is 0.4 ng/dl. The other options listed are less likely to be directly
What could account for this responsible for a decrease in digoxin levels. Increased
change? exercise and weight loss can have various health
1) Regular use of an antacid
effects, but they do not typically result in decreased
2) Increased exercise
digoxin levels. Decreased creatinine
3) Weight loss
4) Decreased creatinine
clearance, indicative of reduced kidney function, would
clearance more likely increase digoxin levels due to reduced
excretion of the drug, not decrease them.
Antihistamines.
Which medication is Antihistamines are typically not recommended for
contraindicated in a child treating acute sinusitis, especially in children. They can
with acute sinusitis? thicken mucus and potentially worsen sinus drainage,
1) Nasal steroids
which can exacerbate the symptoms of sinusitis. The
2) Decongestants
other medications listed - nasal steroids,
3) Expectorants
decongestants, and expectorants - are often used to
4) Antihistamines
manage the symptoms of sinusitis, although their use
and effectiveness can vary depending on the individual
case and age of the child. It's always important to
consult with a healthcare provider for the appropriate
treatment, particularly for children.
/ 1/7
9
,9/19/25, 5:02 AM APEA Exam 2025-2026
Which best describes the Dull aching or cramping.
lower extremity calf pain This type of pain, often referred to as claudication,
associated with peripheral occurs due to inadequate blood flow to the muscles
artery disease? during exercise or exertion, leading to aching,
1) Electric shock cramping, or fatigue in the muscles. The pain typically
2) Pulsating pain
resolves with rest, as this reduces the
3) Sharp, stabbing pain
muscular demand for oxygen and blood flow.
4) Dull aching or cramping
Peripheral artery disease commonly affects the arteries
in the legs, leading to these symptoms during activities
like
walking.
Heart failure.
Jugular venous distention JVD is a sign of increased pressure in the right side of
accompanied by chest pain the heart, which often occurs in heart failure. When the
is associated with: heart is unable to pump efficiently, blood may back up
1) Hypertension
into the veins, causing the jugular veins in the neck to
2) Asthma
swell (JVD). Chest pain in heart
3) Pneumonia
failure can occur due to the heart struggling to function
4) Heart failure
properly under increased strain. While other conditions
like hypertension, asthma, and pneumonia have their
own distinct symptoms, they are not typically associated
with JVD accompanied by chest pain in the same way
as heart failure.
/ 2/7
9
,9/19/25, 5:02 AM APEA Exam 2025-2026
Which immunization protects Hepatitis B.
against a virus that is The Hepatitis B vaccine provides protection against the Hepatitis B
virus, which is
transmitted through blood
transmitted through blood and body fluids. Chronic
and body fluids and can
infection with this virus can lead to serious conditions
lead to chronic liver
such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. The Hepatitis B
disease?
1) Hepatitis C
vaccine is an effective way to prevent these
2) Typhoid fever vaccine complications.
3) Hepatitis A
4) Hepatitis B
A pediatric patient has areas Tinea capitis.
of scaling on the scalp with Tinea capitis, commonly known as scalp ringworm, is a
round patches of hair loss. fungal infection of the scalp. It typically presents with
What is the likely diagnosis? scaly, circular areas of hair loss and may be
1) Alopecia areata accompanied by itching. It is common in children and is
2) Trichotillomania
treated with antifungal medications. The presence of
3) Tinea capitis
scaling is particularly indicative of a fungal infection
4) Seborrheic dermatitis
rather than the
other conditions listed.
Your 70-year-old patient Pernicious anemia due to insufficient intrinsic factor.
complains of a Pernicious anemia, a type of vitamin B12 deficiency, often presents
sore mouth that prevents her with oral
from eating. On exam, you symptoms, including a sore and red tongue (often
note a beefy red, glossy described as "beefy red") and mouth soreness. This
smooth tongue. What do condition occurs due to a lack of intrinsic factor, which
you suspect? is
1) Cheilosis, a serious disease essential for the absorption of vitamin B12. Older adults
of the mouth and are more commonly affected by pernicious anemia, and
oropharynx it can lead to various symptoms, including those
2) Secondary hypothyroidism affecting the mouth and gastrointestinal tract.
3) Pernicious anemia due
to insufficient intrinsic
factor
4) A neurological
disorder such as
Parkinson's disease
/ 3/7
9
, 9/19/25, 5:02 AM APEA Exam 2025-2026
Spinal stenosis.
Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal
A 62-year-old male presents narrows, putting pressure on the nerves. This pressure
with leg pain and occasional can lead to symptoms like pain and numbness in the legs,
numbness that is worse with which typically worsen when walking (especially
ambulation and improved walking a long distance or downhill) and
with lumbar improve with lumbar flexion or sitting. Lumbar flexion
flexion. What is the likely
diagnosis? enlarges the spinal canal space, thereby reducing the
1) Ankylosing spondylitis pressure on the nerves.
2) Cauda equina syndrome The other conditions listed have different typical presentations:
Ankylosing
3) Bursitis
spondylitis often presents with chronic low back pain
4) Spinal stenosis
and stiffness, Cauda equina syndrome is a more acute
and severe condition typically marked by severe back
pain, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and potentially
significant lower extremity weakness, and Bursitis
typically presents with localized joint pain and does
not
typically involve neurological symptoms like numbness.
Persistent vomiting.
Which is not typical While persistent vomiting can be a symptom of various
symptom of late stage HIV? medical conditions, it is not specifically characteristic of
1) Lymphadenopathy of more
that 3 months late-stage HIV. In contrast, the other symptoms listed -
2) Persistent vomiting lymphadenopathy lasting more than three months,
3) Night sweats night sweats, and persistent, unexplained fatigue - are
4) Persistent, unexplained more commonly associated with late-stage HIV. These
fatigue symptoms often reflect the weakened immune system and the
increased
vulnerability to opportunistic infections and other
conditions that accompany the advanced stages of HIV
infection.
Decrease in systemic vascular resistance.
A pregnant patient presents During pregnancy, there is a natural decrease in systemic
for her 16- week prenatal vascular resistance. This is primarily due to the
visit. Her blood pressure had hormonal changes that lead to vasodilation and an
reduced from 118/79 to increased
109/68. What hemodynamic blood flow to support the growing fetus. This
change is responsible for vasodilation can result in a decrease in blood pressure,
this? as seen in this patient. It is a normal physiological
/ 4/7
9
