Last Updated on March 25, 2025
PANCE / PANRE Practice Test Review Questions Answer): National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) administered the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) Examinations.
PANCE / PANRE Practice Test Review Questions
Q1. What is the “steeple sign”?
- (A) Symmetrical tapering of the subglottic portion of the trachea
- (B) An abnormality in the bronchi
- (C) Enlargement of the adenoids
- (D) Inflammation of the vocal cords
Q2. A 3-year-old male child is woken in the middle of the night with a barking seal-like cough and signs and symptoms consistent with croup. On examination, the child’s respirations are 35/min and oxygen saturation is 95% on room air. There is no evidence of stridor on examination and his lungs are clear. What is the recommended treatment for this patient?
- (A) Immediate hospitalization
- (B) Supportive care, fluids, and observation at home
- (C) Antibiotics
- (D) Inhaled corticosteroids
Q3. What if the child presented with stridor on examination?
- (A) Administer albuterol nebulizer
- (B) Immediate intubation
- (C) Administer dexamethasone 0.6 mg/kg IM one-time dose
- (D) Oral antihistamines
Q4. A 34-year-old woman wakes up with a history of sudden onset of fever, body aches, malaise, chills, cough, and a sore throat. She reports that several other members at home have the same symptoms, as do some of her coworkers. On examination, her temperature is 101°F, pulse 100, respiratory rate 18, and BP 122/86. Her throat appears to be moist without any abnormalities, lungs are clear, and the rest of the examination is unremarkable. What is the most probable cause of this illness?
- (A) Common cold
- (B) Bacterial pharyngitis
- (C) Influenza
- (D) Allergic rhinitis
Q5. Which strain of influenza is considered to cause more pandemic outbreaks?
- (A) Influenza A
- (B) Influenza B
- (C) Influenza C
- (D) Influenza D
Q6. Which syndrome can be caused by an outbreak of influenza B virus?
- (A) Guillain-Barre syndrome
- (B) Reye’s syndrome
- (C) Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- (D) Toxic shock syndrome
Q7. What is the main method of transmission for the influenza virus?
- (A) Bloodborne transmission
- (B) Vector-borne transmission
- (C) Aerosol by cough and sneeze and hand-to-hand contact
- (D) Foodborne transmission
Q8. What is the most common type of pneumonia seen in influenza patients?
- (A) Bacterial pneumonia
- (B) Fungal pneumonia
- (C) Viral pneumonia
- (D) Aspiration pneumonia
Q9. What method is used to detect a positive influenza illness?
- (A) Blood culture
- (B) Throat, nasopharyngeal, or sputum samples with a rapid influenza A or B test
- (C) Chest X-ray
- (D) Urinalysis
Q10. What is the treatment of choice for a patient with influenza B virus?
- (A) Amoxicillin
- (B) Oseltamivir or Zanamivir
- (C) Acyclovir
- (D) Metronidazole
Q11. Name some other therapies that are helpful in symptomatic relief of an influenza illness:
- (A) Antibiotics and corticosteroids
- (B) Supportive care, fluids, analgesics such as acetaminophen, and a cough suppressant with or without codeine
- (C) Antifungal therapy
- (D) Bronchodilators
Q12. Which patients should be vaccinated with the influenza vaccine?
- (A) Only the elderly
- (B) Only healthcare workers
- (C) Children between 6 and 59 months, pregnant women, individuals with chronic cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders, nursing home residents, and healthcare workers
- (D) Only individuals traveling to endemic areas
Q13. What age group is usually afflicted by pertussis?
- (A) Adults older than 50 years
- (B) Infants younger than 2 years
- (C) Teenagers
- (D) Middle-aged adults
Q14. What are some of the hallmark symptoms of a patient with pertussis?
- (A) Severe headache and photophobia
- (B) Initial common cold symptoms, progressing to paroxysmal coughing fits with a whooping sound and posttussive vomiting
- (C) High fever and rash
- (D) Abdominal pain and diarrhea
Q15. What is the main pathway for infection leading to pneumonia?
- (A) Hematogenous spread
- (B) Direct inoculation
- (C) Aspiration via the oropharynx
- (D) Contaminated water
Q16. Describe the different presentations of bacterial and viral pneumonia:
- (A) Bacterial pneumonia: Sudden onset, pleurisy, high fever, productive cough. Viral pneumonia: Gradual onset, no pleurisy, general malaise, nonproductive cough
- (B) Bacterial pneumonia: Gradual onset, low fever, dry cough. Viral pneumonia: Sudden onset, pleurisy, high fever, productive cough
- (C) Bacterial pneumonia: No fever, clear lungs. Viral pneumonia: High fever, pleuritic pain
- (D) Bacterial pneumonia: No cough, no fever. Viral pneumonia: Productive cough, high fever
Q17. What is the leading identifiable cause of acute community-acquired pneumonia in adults?
- (A) Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- (B) Streptococcus pneumoniae
- (C) Haemophilus influenzae
- (D) Staphylococcus aureus
Q18. Name the risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia:
- (A) Obesity, diabetes, hypertension
- (B) Alcoholism, asthma, immunosuppression, ≥70 years of age
- (C) Sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, smoking
- (D) Anemia, hyperthyroidism, vegetarian diet
Q19. Name the risk factors for pneumococcal pneumonia:
- (A) Dementia, seizure disorder, alcoholism, smoking, COPD, and HIV
- (B) Diabetes, hypertension, obesity
- (C) Chronic kidney disease, anemia, hyperlipidemia
- (D) Sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, vegetarian diet
Q20. A young infant patient who you suspect has pneumonia is ordered to have a chest X-ray performed. When you view the results, you note the presence of pneumatoceles on the film. What pathogen is likely responsible for this type of finding?
- (A) Streptococcus pneumoniae
- (B) Haemophilus influenzae
- (C) Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- (D) Staphylococcus aureus
Q21. A 24-year-old male patient has had fevers, chills, and a productive cough with dark green sputum for the last week. On physical examination, his temperature is 101.3°F, P 90, R 22, and BP 124/85. There is coryza with moist mucous membranes and a regular rhythm on cardiac examination. Lung sounds reveal an area of crackles with a mild expiratory wheeze at the right lower base of the lung fields. Based on this history and physical examination, what is the treatment of choice for this patient?
- (A) Amoxicillin
- (B) Macrolide antibiotic (clarithromycin or azithromycin)
- (C) Antiviral therapy
- (D) Corticosteroids
Q22. If this patient required inpatient treatment of pneumonia but without ICU admission, what is the class of antibiotics that would be indicated? What if the patient needed to be in the ICU?
- (A) Amoxicillin for non-ICU patients; vancomycin for ICU patients
- (B) Fluoroquinolone for non-ICU patients; ceftriaxone, ampicillin-sulbactam, plus azithromycin or fluoroquinolone for ICU patients
- (C) Tetracycline for non-ICU patients; clindamycin for ICU patients
- (D) Metronidazole for non-ICU patients; doxycycline for ICU patients
Q23. What are some of the more common complications associated with community-acquired pneumonia?
- (A) Hyperglycemia, dehydration, anemia
- (B) Respiratory failure, shock, worsening of comorbid diseases, metastatic infection, lung abscess, and complicated pleural effusion
- (C) Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction
- (D) Seizures, stroke, renal failure
Q24. Which bacterial pneumonias frequently cause frank hemoptysis?
- (A) Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- (B) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus
- (C) Haemophilus influenzae and Legionella pneumoniae
- (D) Escherichia coli and Chlamydia pneumoniae
Q25. What bacteria are associated with pneumonia following influenza?
- (A) Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae
- (B) Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae
- (C) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae
- (D) Legionella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli
Q26. What two underlying medical conditions are associated with Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia?
- (A) Diabetes and hypertension
- (B) Chronic obstructive lung disease and HIV infection
- (C) Chronic kidney disease and anemia
- (D) Asthma and rheumatoid arthritis
Q27. What is the most common etiologic agent of atypical pneumonia?
- (A) Legionella pneumoniae
- (B) Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- (C) Chlamydia pneumoniae
- (D) Coxiella burnetii
Q28. What is considered to be the second most common cause of atypical pneumonia?
- (A) Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- (B) Chlamydia pneumoniae
- (C) Legionella pneumoniae
- (D) Coxiella burnetii
Q29. Of the following organisms, which is commonly spread by person-to-person contact: Legionella pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae?
- (A) Legionella pneumoniae
- (B) Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- (C) Both
- (D) Neither
Q30. What three X-ray findings are associated with a poor outcome in patients with pneumonia?
- (A) Ground-glass opacities, air bronchograms, and pulmonary nodules
- (B) Multilobar involvement, cavitary lesions, and pleural effusions
- (C) Reticular pattern, honeycombing, and pleural plaques
- (D) Hilar lymphadenopathy, miliary pattern, and peribronchial cuffing
See also:
Pretest- FREE PANCE Practice Test 2025 Official Study Guide [PDF]
- PANCE / PANRE PreTest (30 Question Answer)
- PANCE / PANRE Practice Test Review Questions Answer
- Reproductive System (Male and Female)
- Renal System
- Pulmonary System
- Psychiatry Behavioral Science
- Neurologic System
- Musculoskeletal System
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematologic System
- Genitourinary System (Male and Female)
- Gastrointestinal System
- EENT (Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat)
- Endocrine System
- Cardiovascular System
- Dermatologic System