Oral medicine and oral cancer: herpangina: practice question

A Dentistry 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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Dentistry · Oral medicine and oral cancer: herpangina

Sample item

A child has sudden fever, sore throat and a cluster of small ulcers on the soft palate and tonsillar pillars, with a normal gingiva. Which is the best diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Herpangina

Herpangina is caused by Coxsackie A viruses and produces vesicles and ulcers at the back of the mouth, sparing the gingiva. In herpetic gingivostomatitis the gingiva is swollen and the lesions are anterior.

Option by option

  • A. Aphthous major

    Major aphthae are large, solitary, and not accompanied by fever in clusters.

  • B. Oral candidiasis

    Candidiasis shows white plaques, not ulcer clusters.

  • C. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis

    Herpetic gingivostomatitis involves gingival swelling and anterior lesions.

  • D. Herpangina (correct)

    Correct. Posterior palatal ulcers with normal gingiva are typical.

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 Dentistry questions

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is D, Herpangina. Herpangina is caused by Coxsackie A viruses and produces vesicles and ulcers at the back of the mouth, sparing the gingiva.

Why is "Aphthous major" not the answer?

Major aphthae are large, solitary, and not accompanied by fever in clusters.

Why is "Oral candidiasis" not the answer?

Candidiasis shows white plaques, not ulcer clusters.

Why is "Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis" not the answer?

Herpetic gingivostomatitis involves gingival swelling and anterior lesions.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: herpangina in Dentistry. In herpetic gingivostomatitis the gingiva is swollen and the lesions are anterior.

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 Oral medicine and oral cancer: herpangina?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry 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.