MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS| LATEST UPDATE 2026.
1. A 65-year-old male presents with crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm. What
is the most appropriate initial diagnostic test?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
C. CT scan of the chest
D. Echocardiogram
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ECG is the fastest and most critical initial test to detect myocardial
ischemia or infarction. Other tests may follow but should not delay ECG.
2. Which antibiotic is first-line for treating community-acquired pneumonia in otherwise
healthy adults?
A. Vancomycin
B. Azithromycin
C. Ciprofloxacin
D. Amoxicillin-clavulanate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Azithromycin covers common atypical and typical pathogens in
community-acquired pneumonia. Other options are either broader or less appropriate
initially.
3. A patient with diabetes presents with polyuria, polydipsia, and blood glucose of 450
mg/dL. What is the likely diagnosis?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Diabetic ketoacidosis
C. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
D. Metabolic syndrome
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Extremely high glucose with severe dehydration and minimal ketosis
suggests hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state rather than DKA.
4. Which imaging modality is most sensitive for detecting acute intracranial
hemorrhage?
A. MRI
B. CT scan without contrast
C. PET scan
D. Ultrasound
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Non-contrast CT is the fastest and most sensitive initial test for acute
bleeding in the brain.
5. A patient presents with fever, stiff neck, and photophobia. What is the next best step?
A. Start antibiotics immediately
B. Perform lumbar puncture
C. Order CT scan
D. Give analgesics
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Empiric antibiotics should be started immediately in suspected meningitis
to reduce mortality before confirmation.
6. Which lab value is most indicative of acute kidney injury?
A. Decreased hemoglobin
B. Elevated creatinine
C. Low potassium
D. Increased calcium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Elevated serum creatinine is the primary indicator of reduced kidney
function.
7. A patient with asthma presents with wheezing and shortness of breath. What is first-
line treatment?
A. Oral steroids
B. Inhaled short-acting beta-agonist
C. Antibiotics
D. Antihistamines
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Short-acting beta-agonists provide rapid bronchodilation and are first-line
in acute asthma exacerbations.
8. Which condition is characterized by ST-segment elevation on ECG?
A. Stable angina
B. NSTEMI
C. STEMI
D. Pericarditis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ST elevation indicates full-thickness myocardial infarction requiring
urgent intervention.
,9. What is the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary embolism?
A. Chest X-ray
B. D-dimer test
C. CT pulmonary angiography
D. ECG
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: CT pulmonary angiography directly visualizes clots in pulmonary arteries.
10. A patient presents with sudden unilateral weakness and slurred speech. What is the
most likely diagnosis?
A. Migraine
B. Stroke
C. Seizure
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acute neurological deficits strongly suggest stroke and require immediate
evaluation.
11. Which medication is first-line for hypertension?
A. Insulin
B. ACE inhibitors
C. Antibiotics
D. Anticoagulants
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ACE inhibitors are commonly used first-line for hypertension
management.
12. A patient has jaundice and elevated bilirubin. Which organ is primarily affected?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Heart
D. Lung
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Jaundice results from liver dysfunction or bile flow obstruction.
13. What is the primary cause of iron deficiency anemia?
A. Excess iron intake
B. Chronic blood loss
C. Infection
D. Genetic mutation
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Chronic blood loss (e.g., GI bleeding) is the most common cause of iron
deficiency anemia.
14. Which electrolyte imbalance causes cardiac arrhythmias most commonly?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium abnormalities significantly affect cardiac conduction.
15. A patient presents with severe abdominal pain and elevated lipase. Diagnosis?
A. Appendicitis
B. Pancreatitis
C. Cholecystitis
D. Gastritis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Elevated lipase is highly specific for pancreatitis.
16. What is the best initial treatment for anaphylaxis?
A. Antihistamines
B. Corticosteroids
C. Epinephrine
D. Oxygen
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Epinephrine is life-saving and first-line in anaphylaxis.
17. Which test confirms HIV infection?
A. ELISA
B. Western blot
C. PCR
D. Rapid antibody test
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: PCR detects viral RNA and confirms infection definitively.
18. A patient has persistent cough and night sweats. Most likely diagnosis?
A. Asthma
B. Tuberculosis
C. Pneumonia
D. Bronchitis
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS| LATEST UPDATE 2026.
1. A 65-year-old male presents with crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm. What
is the most appropriate initial diagnostic test?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
C. CT scan of the chest
D. Echocardiogram
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ECG is the fastest and most critical initial test to detect myocardial
ischemia or infarction. Other tests may follow but should not delay ECG.
2. Which antibiotic is first-line for treating community-acquired pneumonia in otherwise
healthy adults?
A. Vancomycin
B. Azithromycin
C. Ciprofloxacin
D. Amoxicillin-clavulanate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Azithromycin covers common atypical and typical pathogens in
community-acquired pneumonia. Other options are either broader or less appropriate
initially.
3. A patient with diabetes presents with polyuria, polydipsia, and blood glucose of 450
mg/dL. What is the likely diagnosis?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Diabetic ketoacidosis
C. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
D. Metabolic syndrome
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Extremely high glucose with severe dehydration and minimal ketosis
suggests hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state rather than DKA.
4. Which imaging modality is most sensitive for detecting acute intracranial
hemorrhage?
A. MRI
B. CT scan without contrast
C. PET scan
D. Ultrasound
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Non-contrast CT is the fastest and most sensitive initial test for acute
bleeding in the brain.
5. A patient presents with fever, stiff neck, and photophobia. What is the next best step?
A. Start antibiotics immediately
B. Perform lumbar puncture
C. Order CT scan
D. Give analgesics
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Empiric antibiotics should be started immediately in suspected meningitis
to reduce mortality before confirmation.
6. Which lab value is most indicative of acute kidney injury?
A. Decreased hemoglobin
B. Elevated creatinine
C. Low potassium
D. Increased calcium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Elevated serum creatinine is the primary indicator of reduced kidney
function.
7. A patient with asthma presents with wheezing and shortness of breath. What is first-
line treatment?
A. Oral steroids
B. Inhaled short-acting beta-agonist
C. Antibiotics
D. Antihistamines
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Short-acting beta-agonists provide rapid bronchodilation and are first-line
in acute asthma exacerbations.
8. Which condition is characterized by ST-segment elevation on ECG?
A. Stable angina
B. NSTEMI
C. STEMI
D. Pericarditis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ST elevation indicates full-thickness myocardial infarction requiring
urgent intervention.
,9. What is the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary embolism?
A. Chest X-ray
B. D-dimer test
C. CT pulmonary angiography
D. ECG
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: CT pulmonary angiography directly visualizes clots in pulmonary arteries.
10. A patient presents with sudden unilateral weakness and slurred speech. What is the
most likely diagnosis?
A. Migraine
B. Stroke
C. Seizure
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acute neurological deficits strongly suggest stroke and require immediate
evaluation.
11. Which medication is first-line for hypertension?
A. Insulin
B. ACE inhibitors
C. Antibiotics
D. Anticoagulants
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ACE inhibitors are commonly used first-line for hypertension
management.
12. A patient has jaundice and elevated bilirubin. Which organ is primarily affected?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Heart
D. Lung
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Jaundice results from liver dysfunction or bile flow obstruction.
13. What is the primary cause of iron deficiency anemia?
A. Excess iron intake
B. Chronic blood loss
C. Infection
D. Genetic mutation
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Chronic blood loss (e.g., GI bleeding) is the most common cause of iron
deficiency anemia.
14. Which electrolyte imbalance causes cardiac arrhythmias most commonly?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium abnormalities significantly affect cardiac conduction.
15. A patient presents with severe abdominal pain and elevated lipase. Diagnosis?
A. Appendicitis
B. Pancreatitis
C. Cholecystitis
D. Gastritis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Elevated lipase is highly specific for pancreatitis.
16. What is the best initial treatment for anaphylaxis?
A. Antihistamines
B. Corticosteroids
C. Epinephrine
D. Oxygen
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Epinephrine is life-saving and first-line in anaphylaxis.
17. Which test confirms HIV infection?
A. ELISA
B. Western blot
C. PCR
D. Rapid antibody test
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: PCR detects viral RNA and confirms infection definitively.
18. A patient has persistent cough and night sweats. Most likely diagnosis?
A. Asthma
B. Tuberculosis
C. Pneumonia
D. Bronchitis
