Test Your Knowledge of Viral & Bacterial Organisms With This Question

Welcome to the next episode of The Reveal, where we take you inside the mind of a test taker to deconstruct and connect the dots of a board-style question so you can become a better student, transform how you learn, and excel not only on high-stakes exams but also in your general medical knowledge. Let’s get started.

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An 18-month-old boy presents to the emergency department with worsening shortness of breath. The parents report he has had a cough, runny nose, and fussiness for the past five days. On exam, the patient demonstrates subcostal retractions, tachypnea, and diffuse wheezing. The patient is given an albuterol nebulizer treatment without any improvement of his wheezing. Chest X-ray does not show any abnormality. Which of the following organisms is the most likely cause of his symptoms?

A) Bordetella pertussis

B) Haemophilus influenzae

C) Parainfluenza virus

D) Respiratory syncytial virus

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