Infections: tinea barbae: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · Infections: tinea barbae

Sample item

A farmer has painful boggy plaques with pustules and loosened hairs over the beard area. KOH shows endothrix and ectothrix spores. What is the most appropriate treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Oral terbinafine or griseofulvin

Tinea barbae is dermatophyte infection of the beard, often zoophilic from cattle, and presents as a kerion-like inflammatory plaque. Hair follicle infection needs oral antifungals such as terbinafine or griseofulvin. Topical treatment alone does not penetrate the follicle.

Option by option

  • A. Topical mupirocin alone

    Mupirocin treats bacterial infection.

  • B. Oral acyclovir

    Acyclovir treats herpes simplex, not fungal folliculitis.

  • C. Topical clotrimazole alone

    Topical clotrimazole alone cannot clear hair follicle infection.

  • D. Oral terbinafine or griseofulvin (correct)

    Correct. Oral antifungal therapy is needed for follicular dermatophytosis.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Oral terbinafine or griseofulvin. Tinea barbae is dermatophyte infection of the beard, often zoophilic from cattle, and presents as a kerion-like inflammatory plaque.

Why is "Topical mupirocin alone" not the answer?

Mupirocin treats bacterial infection.

Why is "Oral acyclovir" not the answer?

Acyclovir treats herpes simplex, not fungal folliculitis.

Why is "Topical clotrimazole alone" not the answer?

Topical clotrimazole alone cannot clear hair follicle infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: tinea barbae in Dermatology. Hair follicle infection needs oral antifungals such as terbinafine or griseofulvin. Topical treatment alone does not penetrate the follicle.

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 Infections: tinea barbae?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.