DNB Theory question bank 2022 | The Nervous system

This is a 2022 update on previously asked questions in the DNB pediatrics theory exam. The questions are arranged topic-wise.

1. Questions are arranged in chronological order, latest first
2. Each question is followed by a Numbers.
3. Numbers in bracket are Year followed by session, 1 is June session, 2 is December session eg. (2022/1) is a question from June 2022 question paper
4. The number after the bracket is Marks allotted for eg. 5+5 is 5 marks for each subquestion.

Neurologic Evaluation

1. Internal capsule applied aspect (2021/2) 5
2. Brachial plexus injury - applied aspect (2021/2) 5
3. Traumatic brain injury management (2021/1) 5
4. Neurocardiogenic - syncope diagnosis and differential diagnosis (2021/1) 5
5. Brain stem reflexes in brain death (2021/1) 5
6. Lesions of facial nerve at different levels. 5+5 (2020/2) 5
7. Modified Glasgow Coma Scale (2020/2) 5
8. Utility of newer Neuro-imaging modalities in pediatric age group and their cost-effectiveness. (2015/2) 5+5
9. Amplitude integrated EEG (2014/1)3
10. a) Modified Glasgow Coma Scale for children and infants 5
    b) Its advantages and disadvantages 2
    c) What is AVPU pediatric response Scale 3 (Apr 2016)
11. Clinical significance of Postural Reflexes (2006)10
12. Give 5 examples each of UMN and LMN lesion. How do you clinically differentiate between UMN and LMN lesions? What is the importance of fundus examination in a child with Para paresis (2005)10
13. What are the signs of meningeal irritation in a 2-year-old child? How do you elicit them? How will you rule out Pseudo-neck rigidity (2005)10
14. Modified Glasgow Coma Scale in a 1-year-old Child (2003/1)15
15. Signs and symptoms of a tumor at CP angle, in relation to the anatomy of different structures at this point (1993/2)15

Congenital Anomalies of the Central Nervous System

Hydrocephalus

1. CSF circulation - applied aspect (2021/2) 5
2. CSF flow (2021/1) 5
3. Causes of obstructive hydrocephalus (2019/1) 5
4. Causes of hydrocephalus in children (2017/1) 5
5. a) CSF formation and CSF circulation 4
   b) Enumerate the causes and management of Communicating hydrocephalus and Non -communicating hydrocephalus 3+3 (Apr 2016)
6. Describe briefly cerebrospinal fluid formation, circulation, absorption, and enumerate causes of hydrocephalus. (2011/2)3+2+2+3
7. What are the causes of congenital hydrocephalus? Describe clinical features and management of an infant with Arnold Chiari malformation. (2009/2)4+6
8. Describe the normal cerebrospinal fluid pathway with the help of a diagram. Define and classify hydrocephalus and enlist its causes. (2009/1)4+6
9. List the causes of Hydrocephalus in children. What is the pathogenesis and discuss the management (2005)10
10. Dandy Walker Malformation (2003/1)15
11. Circulation of CSF (2017/1) 5
12. Etiology and pathophysiology of hydrocephalus (1999/2)15
13. Normal CSF circulation in Newborns and the changes that take place in Aqueductal Stenosis (1998/2)10
14. Hydrocephalus in infancy (1996/2)14

Microcephaly

1. Define microcephaly. Enumerate causes of primary and secondary microcephaly. Outline the diagnostic approach of a 2 years old child brought to the hospital with small sized head (2012/1) 1+4+5
2. Enumerate its etiology and approach to diagnosis in a child with microcephaly (2010/1) 3+2+2+3
3. Describe growth velocity of head size from birth till 5 years of age. Define microcephaly.

Craniosynostosis

1.  Craniosynostosis. 5 (2020/2) 
2. Define craniosynostosis and its types. Name specific syndromes associated with craniosynostosis. Describe the clinical characteristics of common types of craniosynostosis. (2013/2)3+3+4

Neural tube defect

1. Neural tube defects prevention (2021/2) 5
2. Antenatal diagnosis NTD (2021/1) 5
3. Neural tube defects (2018/1)
4. Enumerate common types of neural tube defects. Discuss prevention and management of neural tube defects. (2014/2)4+(2+4)
5. Enumerate various types of neural tube defects and discuss their embryogenesis. Outline in brief management of meningomyelocele. (2011/1) 3+3+4
6. Discuss briefly the possible predisposing factors, types of open Neural Tube Defects in children and its prevention (2007/1)10
7. Role of Folic Acid in prevention of Neural Tube Defects (1998/2)10
8. Prevention of Neural Tube Defects (1997/2)15

Neuronal migration disorders

1. Disorders of neuronal migration (2018/2)5
2. Enumerate 4 common neuronal migration disorders and their clinical features in brief 6(01/2016)

Seizures in Childhood

1. Landau Kleffner Syndrome (2020/01)5
2. Role of EEG in management of seizure disorders in children (2020/01)5
3. Define epilepsy. How are seizures classified (2019/1)
4. Epilepsy syndromes with focal seizures [2018/1/5]
5. Describe the etiology, types, and EEG changes of infantile spasms. Outline the treatment protocol. (2012/1)2+3+1+4
6. Enumerate the etiology of the first episode of complex partial seizures in a 7-year-old boy. Provide an approach to the management of this child. (2011/1)4+6
7. Define myoclonic epilepsy. Discuss in brief the characteristic features of different types of myoclonic epilepsies, with onset in infancy. (2010/2)2+8
8. Diagnosis and management of a child with Partial Focal Seizure (2006/2)10
9. Approach to an infant with myoclonic seizures (2000/1)15
10. Partial Seizures 15
11. Infantile spasms (1999/2)10
12. Management of a case of Complex Partial Seizure (1998/2)10
13. What are the causes of convulsions in infancy and childhood How will you investigate such a case (1997/2)15
14. Classification of Epilepsy and treatment of Simple Partial Seizures (1996/2)12
15. Management of Children with Partial Seizures (1995/1)15
16. Management of children with partial epilepsy (1995/1)15
17. Benign Rolandic Epilepsy of Childhood (1993/1)15

Febrile seizures

1. Describe various types of febrile seizures (2018/1/4)
2. Write the characteristic features of febrile seizures in children. Enumerate the differentiating points for atypical febrile seizure. Outline the indications and regime for continuous prophylaxis in febrile seizures. (2010/2)2+2+3+3
3. Define Febrile Convulsions. Discuss the management of a 2-year-old child who presents to the emergency room with the first episode of Febrile Seizure. Add a note on anticonvulsant Prophylaxis in febrile seizures. (2006)10
4. Etiology and management of Febrile Seizures (1998/1)15
5. Definition, prognosis, and management of Febrile Convulsion (1993/1)15

Status Epilepticus

1. Super refractory status epileptics and its management. (2021/1)5
2. Management of refractory status epilepticus (2019/2)5
3. Steps in management of status epilepticus in children. (2017/1) 5, (2016/2) 10
4. An 8-year-old apparently well boy presents with generalized seizures for the last one hour. How will you approach (including history and examination) this child? Discuss the management of this patient. (2008/2)10
5. What are the causes of Convulsions in children? Discuss the management of Status Epilepticus (2005)5+5
6. Treatment of Status Epilepticus in a 5-year-old Child (1995/2)10

Conditions That Mimic Seizures

1. Discuss conditions that mimic seizures in children (2007/2)10
2. Conditions mimicking seizures (1999/2)15
3. Pseudo seizures (1998/2)10

Headaches

1. Childhood migraine (2021/2) 5
2. Diagnosis and treatment of migraine (2021/1) 5
3. Classification of headache disorders in children (2017/2) 4
4. List causes of headache in children. Outline an approach for a 10-year-old child with a headache. (2011/1)4+6
5. Define Migraine in children. Discuss the Classification of Migraine and write its management (2007/2)10
6. Classification and management of Migraine (2007/1)10

Neurocutaneous Syndromes

1. Neurocutaneous syndrome (2019/2)5
2. List the neurocutaneous syndromes. Describe the genetics, cellular defect, clinical manifestation and diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis. (2009/2) 3+1+1+3+2

Movement Disorders

1. Enumerate the causes for ataxia in children. Discuss the investigations and treatment for a 7-year-old boy presenting with acute onset ataxia. (2014/1) 4+3+3
2. Management of infantile tremor syndrome (1/2016)4
3. List common movement disorders in children (2017/2) 3
4. Acute cerebellar ataxia. (2020/01)5

Encephalopathies

1. Autoimmune encephalitis. (2020/2)5
2. Enumerate management of CP (2019/1) 5
3. Diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis (2019/1) 5
4. Describe the evaluation of a child with cerebral palsy. (2009/2)10

Neurodegenerative Disorders of Childhood

1. A 2-year-old child presents with history of regression of milestones for past 6 months and hepatosplenomegaly. Discuss the differential diagnosis and diagnostic approach. (1/2016)
2. Enlist the possible conditions which could result in a 24-month-old child with history of regression of milestones for the past 8 months. The child also has a liver enlargement. Detail the clinical manifestation of Tay Sach Disease? (2008/1) 10
3. Discuss the diagnosis and investigation plan for a 2-year-old child with regression of milestones and generalized seizures (1993/1)25

Demyelinating Disorders of the Central Nervous System

1. A). What are the demyelinating disorders of CNS? 2
   B). Etiopathogenesis, clinical features, investigations, and management of ADEM (2015/1) (2+2+2+2)
2. Acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (2013/1)5
3. Discuss the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (2009/1)4+6

Pediatric Stroke

1. Pediatric stroke management. (2021/02)5
2. Diagnostic evaluation of stroke(2020/01)5
3. Causes and investigations in a child with stroke (1/2016)5
4. Enumerate the causes of stroke in children. Discuss the diagnostic approach for managing a child with stroke. (2011/2)3+7
5. What are the causes of hypercoagulable state in children? How will you manage a case of acute hemiplegia? (2009/2)4+6
6. Describe the causes of arterial thromboembolism in children. Outline the management of a child with acute hemiplegia. (2008/1)10
7. Briefly discuss the arterial supply of Brain. Outline the causes of acute hemiplegia in a 2 year old child (2007/2)10
8. Discuss the etiopathogenesis, clinical symptomatology and differential diagnosis of childhood stroke (2006/2)10
9. Discuss the etiopathogenesis of acute onset hemiplegia in a 3 year old child. How will you manage this child? (2004/2)4+6
10. Stroke in childhood (2000/1)15

Central Nervous System Infections

1. Discuss briefly the epidemiology, investigations, and management of Viral Meningoencephalitis (2007/1)10
2. Pathogenesis, management and prognosis of H.Influenzae Meningitis in children (2006)10
3. Pathophysiology of Acute Encephalitis (2003/1)15
4. Chronic Meningitis – clinical approach and management (2002/1)15
5. Discuss diagnosis and management of Viral Encephalitis (1997/1)15

Brain Abscess

1. Enumerate risk factors for brain abscess. Outline investigations and treatment of brain abscess in children. (2009/2)4+2+4
2. Enumerate risk factors for brain abscess. Outline a scheme for investigating and treatment a 10-year-old child with brain abscess. (2008/1)10

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (Pseudotumor Cerebri)

1. Intracranial hypertension – causes, diagnosis, and management (2019/2)6
2. Treatment of raised intracranial tension in acute encephalitic syndrome [2018/1/5]
3. Measures to reduce intracranial tension (2017/1) 4, (2016/2) 5
4. Diagnostic criteria for pseudotumour cerebri (2017/2) 4
5. Discuss pathophysiology and types of cerebral edema. Write the medical management of raised ICT (2014/2) 4+6
6. Define raised intracranial pressure. Describe its clinical features and management. (2010/1)2+3+5
7. Outline the steps in managing intracranial hypertension and provide rationale for each of these steps. (2009/1)10
8. Pathophysiology of Cerebral Edema (2000/1)15
9. Discuss the pathophysiology and management of Raised Intracranial Tension 25
10. Pseudotumor Cerebri (1999/2)10

Misc

1. Supratentorial intracranial tumors in children. 5 (2020/2)5