Cough MCQ Quiz | Respiratory System

Welcome to the specialized quiz on Cough, a cornerstone topic in the Respiratory System module for MBBS students. This quiz is designed to test your understanding of the pathophysiology, etiology, diagnosis, and management of cough. It covers acute, subacute, and chronic cough, including common causes like UACS, GERD, and asthma, as well as red flag symptoms and pharmacological interventions. This assessment consists of 25 multiple-choice questions curated to reflect the complexity and depth required at the MBBS level. After completing the quiz, you can review your performance and download a PDF document containing all the questions along with their correct answers for your future reference and revision. Good luck!

1. A cough that persists for more than 8 weeks in an adult is defined as:

2. The afferent pathway of the cough reflex is primarily mediated by which nerve?

3. A patient develops a persistent dry cough a few weeks after starting a new antihypertensive medication. Which drug class is the most likely culprit?

4. The mechanism behind ACE inhibitor-induced cough is thought to be the accumulation of:

5. A patient presents with paroxysms of severe coughing followed by a loud inspiratory “whoop”. What is the most likely causative organism?

6. Which of the following is NOT considered one of the three most common causes of chronic cough in a non-smoking adult with a normal chest X-ray?

7. A “bovine” or non-explosive cough is classically associated with:

8. Which medication acts as a mucolytic by cleaving disulfide bonds in mucoproteins?

9. A cough that worsens upon lying down is a classic symptom suggestive of:

10. Cough syncope is a complication resulting from:

11. Which is the most appropriate initial investigation for an adult with a chronic cough and no other alarming symptoms?

12. Dextromethorphan suppresses cough by acting on the:

13. Which of the following is considered a “red flag” symptom in a patient presenting with a cough?

14. A patient with chronic cough produces large volumes of purulent sputum, particularly in the morning. This clinical picture is most suggestive of:

15. The efferent (motor) pathway of the cough reflex primarily involves the phrenic nerve and which other group of nerves?

16. A key feature that helps differentiate a psychogenic cough from an organic cough is that a psychogenic cough typically:

17. A cough lasting for 5 weeks following an upper respiratory tract infection is best classified as:

18. In diagnosing cough-variant asthma where spirometry is normal, which test has a high negative predictive value?

19. Guaifenesin is a commonly used over-the-counter medication for cough. What is its primary mechanism of action?

20. The three phases of a normal cough reflex, in order, are:

21. A “seal-bark” like cough in a pediatric patient is highly characteristic of which condition?

22. Which of the following is the mechanism of action for codeine as an antitussive?

23. A patient presents with a chronic dry cough and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy on chest X-ray. Which systemic disease should be strongly considered?

24. What is the most common cause of acute cough?

25. A patient’s cough is characterized by the production of pink, frothy sputum. This is a classic sign of: