Papulosquamous disorders: pompholyx: 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 · Papulosquamous disorders: pompholyx

Sample item

A 28-year-old woman has recurrent, deep-seated, intensely itchy vesicles on the sides of the fingers and palms that look like tapioca grains. KOH of the roof is negative. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema)

Pompholyx is a vesicular hand and foot eczema with tapioca-like deep vesicles on the lateral fingers and palms, often with stress, sweating or nickel as triggers. A negative KOH makes dermatophyte infection unlikely. Palmoplantar pustulosis has sterile pustules rather than clear vesicles.

Option by option

  • A. Palmar tinea manuum

    Tinea manuum would show hyphae on KOH and usually involves one hand.

  • B. Scabies

    Scabies produces burrows and finger-web papules and typically itches in household contacts.

  • C. Palmoplantar pustulosis

    Palmoplantar pustulosis shows sterile yellow pustules, not clear deep vesicles.

  • D. Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema) (correct)

    Correct. Tapioca-like deep vesicles on the lateral fingers with negative KOH indicate pompholyx.

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, Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema). Pompholyx is a vesicular hand and foot eczema with tapioca-like deep vesicles on the lateral fingers and palms, often with stress, sweating or nickel as triggers.

Why is "Palmar tinea manuum" not the answer?

Tinea manuum would show hyphae on KOH and usually involves one hand.

Why is "Scabies" not the answer?

Scabies produces burrows and finger-web papules and typically itches in household contacts.

Why is "Palmoplantar pustulosis" not the answer?

Palmoplantar pustulosis shows sterile yellow pustules, not clear deep vesicles.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: pompholyx in Dermatology. A negative KOH makes dermatophyte infection unlikely. Palmoplantar pustulosis has sterile pustules rather than clear vesicles.

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 Papulosquamous disorders: pompholyx?

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.