Infectious diseases: tetanus management: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Infectious diseases: tetanus management

Sample item

A farmer has trismus, risus sardonicus and spasms 8 days after a foot wound. Which measures are included in treatment?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Wound debridement, human tetanus immunoglobulin, metronidazole and sedation in a quiet environment

Management of tetanus includes wound debridement, human tetanus immunoglobulin to neutralise unbound toxin, metronidazole, benzodiazepines for spasms, magnesium for autonomic instability and supportive airway care. Toxoid vaccination is given later because disease does not confer immunity.

Option by option

  • A. Antibiotics only

    Antibiotics alone do not neutralise toxin.

  • B. Steroids

    Steroids have no role.

  • C. Tetanus toxoid only

    Toxoid alone does not act immediately.

  • D. Wound debridement, human tetanus immunoglobulin, metronidazole and sedation in a quiet environment (correct)

    Correct. This is the standard multimodal treatment.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Wound debridement, human tetanus immunoglobulin, metronidazole and sedation in a quiet environment. Management of tetanus includes wound debridement, human tetanus immunoglobulin to neutralise unbound toxin, metronidazole, benzodiazepines for spasms, magnesium for autonomic instability and supportive airway care.

Why is "Antibiotics only" not the answer?

Antibiotics alone do not neutralise toxin.

Why is "Steroids" not the answer?

Steroids have no role.

Why is "Tetanus toxoid only" not the answer?

Toxoid alone does not act immediately.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious diseases: tetanus management in General Medicine. Toxoid vaccination is given later because disease does not confer immunity.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Infectious diseases: tetanus management?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.