Antimicrobials: ampicillin rash: practice question

A Pharmacology 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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Pharmacology · Antimicrobials: ampicillin rash

Sample item

A 17-year-old with sore throat, exudative tonsillitis and generalised lymphadenopathy takes ampicillin and develops a diffuse maculopapular rash. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Infectious mononucleosis

Aminopenicillins commonly cause a non-allergic maculopapular rash in patients with Epstein-Barr virus infection. This is not a true penicillin allergy and is not a contraindication to later use.

Option by option

  • A. Infectious mononucleosis (correct)

    Correct. Ampicillin rash suggests infectious mononucleosis.

  • B. Measles

    Measles is not suggested.

  • C. Scarlet fever

    Scarlet fever is caused by streptococcal toxin and not a drug rash.

  • D. True IgE-mediated penicillin allergy

    The rash is non-IgE and not true allergy.

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 Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is A, Infectious mononucleosis. Aminopenicillins commonly cause a non-allergic maculopapular rash in patients with Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Why is "Measles" not the answer?

Measles is not suggested.

Why is "Scarlet fever" not the answer?

Scarlet fever is caused by streptococcal toxin and not a drug rash.

Why is "True IgE-mediated penicillin allergy" not the answer?

The rash is non-IgE and not true allergy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antimicrobials: ampicillin rash in Pharmacology. This is not a true penicillin allergy and is not a contraindication to later use.

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 Antimicrobials: ampicillin rash?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology 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.