Paediatric infections: hand foot and mouth disease: practice question

A Pediatrics 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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Pediatrics · Paediatric infections: hand foot and mouth disease

Sample item

A 3-year-old has vesicles on palms, soles and oral mucosa. In an outbreak, a child develops myoclonic jerks, ataxia and neurogenic pulmonary oedema. Which agent is associated with these severe complications?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Enterovirus 71

Hand, foot and mouth disease is most often caused by coxsackievirus A16, which gives a mild illness. Enterovirus 71 is linked to brainstem encephalitis and neurogenic pulmonary oedema.

Option by option

  • A. Coxsackie A16

    Coxsackie A16 usually causes benign disease.

  • B. Parvovirus B19

    Parvovirus B19 causes erythema infectiosum.

  • C. Herpes simplex virus

    HSV causes gingivostomatitis and does not cause palmar-plantar vesicles.

  • D. Enterovirus 71 (correct)

    Correct. EV71 causes the severe neurological form.

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.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is D, Enterovirus 71. Hand, foot and mouth disease is most often caused by coxsackievirus A16, which gives a mild illness.

Why is "Coxsackie A16" not the answer?

Coxsackie A16 usually causes benign disease.

Why is "Parvovirus B19" not the answer?

Parvovirus B19 causes erythema infectiosum.

Why is "Herpes simplex virus" not the answer?

HSV causes gingivostomatitis and does not cause palmar-plantar vesicles.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric infections: hand foot and mouth disease in Pediatrics. Enterovirus 71 is linked to brainstem encephalitis and neurogenic pulmonary oedema.

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 Paediatric infections: hand foot and mouth disease?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.