Question:medium
The most common bacterial cause of rhinitis is?
The most common bacterial cause of rhinitis is?
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Think of the respiratory trio that also causes otitis media and sinusitis.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Streptococcus haemolyticus
- Pasteurella multocida
- Corynebacterium diphtheriae
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Note the trap first: overall the commonest cause of rhinitis is a virus. The stem deliberately asks for the bacterial cause, so a respiratory bacterial pathogen is expected.
Step 2: The classic trio that colonises and infects the upper respiratory mucosa is $S.\ pneumoniae$, $H.\ influenzae$ and $M.\ catarrhalis$ - the same organisms behind otitis media and sinusitis.
Step 3: From the four choices, only Haemophilus influenzae belongs to this respiratory trio, making it the correct pick.
Step 4: Pasteurella multocida points to animal bites, Corynebacterium diphtheriae to membranous infection, and Streptococcus haemolyticus is not the usual rhinitis organism, so each is ruled out.
\[\boxed{\text{Haemophilus influenzae}}\]
Step 2: The classic trio that colonises and infects the upper respiratory mucosa is $S.\ pneumoniae$, $H.\ influenzae$ and $M.\ catarrhalis$ - the same organisms behind otitis media and sinusitis.
Step 3: From the four choices, only Haemophilus influenzae belongs to this respiratory trio, making it the correct pick.
Step 4: Pasteurella multocida points to animal bites, Corynebacterium diphtheriae to membranous infection, and Streptococcus haemolyticus is not the usual rhinitis organism, so each is ruled out.
\[\boxed{\text{Haemophilus influenzae}}\]
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