A 6-year-old boy presents with bilateral multiple nasal polyps, recurrent chest infections, and poor weight gain. Which single investigation is most appropriate to establish the underlying cause?

• A Sweat chloride estimation ✓
• B Serum total and specific IgE estimation
• C Skin prick testing for aeroallergens
• D Nasal mucosal biopsy

Explanation

Nasal polyposis is distinctly uncommon in young children, and its presence should always prompt suspicion of cystic fibrosis; in this age group the child is considered to have cystic fibrosis until proven otherwise. The sweat chloride test remains the diagnostic standard. Allergy-driven multiple ethmoidal polyposis is the pattern seen in adults, so allergy testing would miss the diagnosis here, and biopsy adds nothing to the workup.

Reference: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.