Mastering Paediatrics for NEET-PG and INI-CET in Just 4 Days

Daily Targets

  • Read/Revise 3–4 hours.
  • Solve 120–150 MCQs/day (30 per block, timed) with an error log.
  • Make 4–6 mini‑cards/day (ages, algorithms, doses, red flags, differential “triads”).

Day 1 — Growth & Development, Nutrition, Immunisation, Neonatology, Adolescent (Deep Dive)

Growth & Development

  • Milestones (anchor ages):
    • Gross motor: head control 3–4 mo; roll 4–5 mo; sit w/o support ~8 mo; stand 12 mo; walk 12–15 mo.
    • Fine motor: palmar grasp 5 mo; pincer 9–10 mo; tower 2 cubes @ 12 mo; 6 cubes @ 2 y.
    • Language: babble 6 mo; bisyllables 9 mo; 2‑word phrases ~2 y; 50+ words 2 y; sentences 3 y.
    • Social: social smile ~2 mo; stranger anxiety 6–8 mo; parallel play 2–3 y.
  • Red flags: regression; no single words by 16–18 mo; no walking by 18 mo; persistent primitive reflexes; loss of acquired skills.
  • Screening tools (concept): developmental screening basics; autism red flags (M‑CHAT idea); ADHD overview; school readiness.
  • Growth charts: WHO 0–5 y; IAP 5–18 y; head circumference 0–2 y; mid‑parental height; bone age idea; BMI‑for‑age (overweight/obesity cut‑ins concept).
  • Common syndromes one‑liners: Down (hypotonia, upslanting fissures, AV canal risk), Turner (short stature, webbed neck), Marfan (tall, lens, aortic root).

Nutrition

  • Infant feeding: exclusive BF 0–6 mo; complementary ≥6 mo; responsive feeding; continue BF ≥2 y (concept).
  • PEM: marasmus vs kwashiorkor differences; edema/dermatosis/hair changes.
  • Acute malnutrition: SAM/MAM definitions (z‑score/MUAC; bilateral pitting edema → SAM).
  • Micronutrients: Vit‑A Bitot spots; rickets signs (wrist/knee swelling, craniotabes); iron deficiency (pallor, pica); iodine goiter; zinc in diarrhea.
  • Refeeding risk concept; ORS + zinc dosing outline.

Immunization (exam mindset, India aware)

  • Age‑based schedule anchors: birth; 6/10/14 weeks; 9–12 mo; 16–24 mo; 5–6 y; 10 & 16 y; JE where indicated.
  • Vaccine types: live vs inactivated vs toxoid vs conjugate; catch‑up principles; contraindications vs precautions.
  • Session pearls: cold‑chain (VVM idea), open‑vial policy concept; AEFI categories basics.
  • Post‑exposure concepts: rabies & varicella (high‑level logic only).

Neonatology

  • Immediate care: thermoregulation (skin‑to‑skin), delayed cord clamping (concept), vitamin K, eye care.
  • NRP ladder: initial steps → PPV thresholds → chest compressions → epinephrine basics; meconium handling concept.
  • Normal newborn: Apgar; physiologic weight loss; reflexes (Moro, rooting, sucking, grasp); hypoglycemia prevention.
  • Jaundice: physiologic vs pathologic; <24 h onset red flag; breastfeeding vs breast‑milk jaundice; basics of phototherapy/exchange triggers (conceptual—risk‑based).
  • Preterm/LBW: RDS basics; surfactant idea; apnea of prematurity; CPAP concept.
  • Sepsis screen: clinical red flags; workup outline; early antibiotics concept.
  • Other: NEC/IVH awareness; HIE staging idea; ROP screening concept; hypothermia prevention.

Adolescent health

  • Puberty & Tanner staging cues; menstrual irregularities basics; PCOS concept.
  • Common issues: anemia, nutrition, body image, mental health, substance use screening; counselling mindset.

Day‑1 MCQs focus

  • Milestone ages; SAM/MAM criteria; vitamin deficiency patterns; vaccine age/booster logic; neonatal jaundice types; NRP steps; RDS vs TTN vs MAS pointers.

Day 2 — Respiratory, Cardiology, Neurology, Infectious Diseases, GI/Hepatology (Broadened)

Respiratory

  • URTI vs LRTI patterns; stridor vs wheeze approach.
  • Bronchiolitis: age, RSV; supportive care; high‑risk criteria.
  • Croup vs epiglottitis: barking cough vs drooling/toxic; initial steps.
  • Pneumonia: tachypnea cut‑ins by age (idea), chest indrawing; typical vs atypical cues.
  • Asthma: step‑wise therapy (SABA → ICS/LABA concept); acute exacerbation basics.
  • CF overview: failure to thrive, recurrent chest infections; sweat chloride concept.

Cardiology

  • Acyanotic: ASD (fixed split S2), VSD (pansystolic), PDA (machinery); indications for closure concept.
  • Cyanotic: TOF (squatting spells), TGA, TAPVC, truncus—one‑liners; differential cyanosis idea.
  • Heart failure in infants: poor feeding, sweating, FTT; first steps.
  • Kawasaki disease: diagnostic criteria; coronary risk; IVIG + aspirin concept.
  • Rheumatic fever: revised Jones criteria (idea); penicillin prophylaxis basics.
  • Coarctation of aorta: radio‑femoral delay; rib notching concept.

Neurology

  • Seizures: febrile vs afebrile; infantile spasms (West) overview; absence vs focal pointers.
  • Status epilepticus initial management basics; red flags for meningitis/encephalitis; empiric approach concept.
  • CP overview; developmental delay work‑up outline (hearing/vision/thyroid/iron/lead where relevant—concept).
  • Headache types: migraine vs tension vs secondary red flags.

Infectious diseases & immunization pearls

  • Measles/mumps/rubella/varicella patterns; pertussis cough phases; diphtheria pseudomembrane concept.
  • TB in children: primary complex; contact tracing; chemoprophylaxis logic.
  • Fever with rash ddx snapshot: measles, rubella, dengue warning signs (idea), enteroviral.
  • Diarrhea: low‑osmolarity ORS; zinc course; dysentery red flags; dehydration classification (some/severe); persistent diarrhea outline.

Gastrointestinal & hepatology

  • AGE: ORS plans; shock danger signs; intractable vomiting red flags.
  • Intussusception triad; US target sign; air enema concept.
  • Pyloric stenosis clues: projectile non‑bilious vomiting, visible peristalsis; first steps.
  • GERD/GER in infants; cow’s milk protein allergy concept.
  • Hepatitis A/E basics; neonatal cholestasis red flags (pale stools); biliary atresia idea.

Day‑2 MCQs focus

  • Croup vs epiglottitis; bronchiolitis vs pneumonia; CHD identifiers; Kawasaki criteria; ORS/zinc; intussusception vs pyloric stenosis; TB child pointers; CF one‑liner.

Day 3 — Renal, Endocrine/Metabolic, Hematology/Oncology, Emergencies/Poisoning (Expanded), Misc.

Renal & electrolytes

  • Nephrotic vs nephritic: edema/proteinuria vs hematuria/HTN; minimal change disease triad; steroid response concepts.
  • UTI: suspicion, clean‑catch vs catheter collection; culture basics; imaging when indicated concept; prophylaxis idea.
  • Hydronephrosis & posterior urethral valves (antenatal hydronephrosis + poor stream); VUR idea.
  • Fluids/electrolytes: maintenance fluid calculation; dehydration types; hyponatremia/hypernatremia basics; hypocalcemia tetany idea.

Endocrine & metabolic

  • Type 1 diabetes: presentation; DKA clues (polyuria, dehydration, Kussmaul); first steps (fluids → insulin outline).
  • Congenital hypothyroidism: newborn screening; signs.
  • CAH basics; newborn ambiguity concept; salt‑wasting red flags.
  • Short vs tall stature: causes & approach outline.
  • Inborn errors of metabolism — concept snapshot (vomiting/lethargy, metabolic acidosis, hyperammonemia cues).

Hematology & oncology

  • Anaemias: IDA vs thalassemia trait vs megaloblastic; MCV/RDW patterns; Mentzer index idea.
  • Bleeding disorders: haemophilia vs vWD; ITP snapshot; epistaxis basics.
  • Malignancy red flags: leukaemia (pallor, bleeding, bone pain, organomegaly), neuroblastoma vs Wilms (abdominal mass), retinoblastoma (leukocoria).
  • Sickle cell basics: transfusion reactions concept.

Emergencies, toxicology & resuscitation

  • Pediatric BLS highlights: shock types (hypovolemic/septic/cardiogenic/obstructive) and first steps; anaphylaxis basics.
  • FB aspiration: sudden cough/stridor/wheeze; age‑appropriate removal steps.
  • Common poisonings: iron (GI then latent then shock), kerosene (aspiration risk), organophosphate (cholinergic signs) — ABC and decontamination cautions.
  • Sepsis bundle mindset; seizures/status ladder recap.

Miscellaneous

  • Musculoskeletal: DDH screening; SCFE vs Perthes one‑liners.
  • Dermatology snapshot in kids: atopic dermatitis cues; scabies; impetigo one‑liners.

Day‑3 MCQs focus

  • Nephrotic vs nephritic; UTI thresholds (concept); DKA basics; IDA vs thal trait; leukemia vs Wilms/neuroblastoma; BLS/shock; FB airway; organophosphate snapshot.

Rapid Revision (Evening of Day 3)

  • Milestones & growth charts; red flags; screening tool cues.
  • PEM vs normal; SAM/MAM; vitamin A/D/iron highlights; ORS + zinc.
  • Vaccine age map & catch‑up; AEFI categories; post‑exposure logic.
  • Bronchiolitis vs pneumonia; croup vs epiglottitis; asthma ladder; CF one‑liner.
  • CHD identifiers; Kawasaki essentials; rheumatic fever gist; coarctation clue.
  • Diarrhoea plans; intussusception target sign; pyloric stenosis triad.
  • Nephrotic vs nephritic; UTI collection & when to image (concept).
  • DKA first steps: congenital hypothyroidism screen; CAH salt‑wasting clue.
  • Leukaemia red flags: neuroblastoma vs Wilms vs retinoblastoma; ITP vs haemophilia.

Practice Pattern (all days)

  • Timed MCQ blocks → immediate review → write one rule learned from each error.
  • Vignette flow: diagnosis → first step → next test → basic management.
  • Mini‑cards to carry: milestones; vaccine ages; dehydration chart; asthma steps; CHD/Kawasaki; nephrotic vs nephritic; DKA algorithm; leukaemia red flags; FB airway steps; intussusception vs pyloric stenosis cues; shock types.
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