Pediatrics confusion pairs
20 Pediatrics topics students commonly mix up on Step 2 CK, each with the fastest separator, a side-by-side comparison, and a free practice question.
Step 2 CK pairs are in open beta while clinical review finishes. Spot an issue? Tell us.
- Neonatal jaundice physiologic vs Neonatal jaundice pathologicJaundice onset before versus after 24 hours of life is the immediate branch point.
- Direct hyperbilirubinemia vs Indirect hyperbilirubinemiaA conjugated bilirubin fraction above 20% of total bilirubin immediately identifies direct hyperbilirubinemia.
- Tetralogy of Fallot vs Transposition of great arteriesDegree and timing of neonatal cyanosis with oxygen nonresponse requiring ductal-dependent mixing support.
- Pyloric stenosis vs GERD infantProjectile progressive nonbilious vomiting with dehydration points to pyloric stenosis.
- VSD vs ASDFixed wide split S2 points to ASD, not isolated VSD.
- Croup vs EpiglottitisDrooling with tripod posture is the quickest bedside separator for epiglottitis.
- Bronchiolitis vs CroupInspiratory stridor with a barky cough identifies croup rather than bronchiolitis.
- Hirschsprung disease vs Meconium ileusRectal suction biopsy showing absent ganglion cells confirms Hirschsprung disease.
- Cyanotic congenital heart disease vs Acyanotic congenital heart diseaseFailure of oxygen saturation to improve with 100% oxygen indicates cyanotic congenital heart disease.
- Kawasaki disease vs Scarlet feverFever lasting at least 5 days with nonpurulent conjunctivitis is the quickest discriminator for Kawasaki disease.
- Rheumatic fever vs Post-strep glomerulonephritisLow serum C3 with nephritic urine sediment is the fast discriminator for post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
- Intussusception vs Meckel diverticulumIntermittent colicky pain with ultrasound target sign points to intussusception, while painless bleeding with positive Meckel scan points…
- Necrotizing enterocolitis vs Sepsis neonatePneumatosis intestinalis on abdominal imaging is the single fastest discriminator for necrotizing enterocolitis.
- Asthma exacerbation child vs BronchiolitisA first-time wheezing illness in an infant younger than 24 months with viral upper-respiratory prodrome is the fastest discriminator for…
- Henoch-Schonlein purpura vs Other vasculitides in childrenPalpable purpura with a normal platelet count in a child with abdominal pain identifies IgA vasculitis.
- Child abuse physical vs Accidental injuryInjury pattern inconsistent with developmental ability is the fastest discriminator for physical abuse.
- Autism spectrum disorder vs Language delayLoss of joint attention and social reciprocity separates autism from isolated language delay.
- Vaccine schedule child vs Vaccine contraindicationsPresence of a true contraindication to a due live vaccine determines whether to vaccinate now or defer.
- Failure to thrive organic vs Failure to thrive non-organicCatch-up weight gain during supervised feeding without new medical findings favors non-organic failure to thrive.
- ADHD vs Normal childhood behaviorFunctional impairment in two or more settings is the decisive discriminator for ADHD.