Drug reactions: serum sickness-like reaction: 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 · Drug reactions: serum sickness-like reaction

Sample item

A 4-year-old develops fever, an urticarial rash and joint pains 8 days after starting cefaclor. Urine and complement levels are normal. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Serum sickness-like reaction

Serum sickness-like reaction is a drug reaction, classically with cefaclor in children, producing fever, urticarial or polymorphous rash and arthralgia 1 to 3 weeks after exposure. Unlike true serum sickness it lacks circulating immune complexes and low complement. It resolves after stopping the drug.

Option by option

  • A. Kawasaki disease

    Kawasaki disease has prolonged fever, conjunctival injection and mucosal changes.

  • B. True serum sickness with immune complex deposition

    True serum sickness shows immune complexes and low complement.

  • C. Serum sickness-like reaction (correct)

    Correct. Cefaclor-associated rash, fever and arthralgia with normal complement fits a serum sickness-like reaction.

  • D. Henoch-Schonlein purpura

    Henoch-Schonlein purpura has palpable purpura with gut and renal involvement.

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 C, Serum sickness-like reaction. Serum sickness-like reaction is a drug reaction, classically with cefaclor in children, producing fever, urticarial or polymorphous rash and arthralgia 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.

Why is "Kawasaki disease" not the answer?

Kawasaki disease has prolonged fever, conjunctival injection and mucosal changes.

Why is "True serum sickness with immune complex deposition" not the answer?

True serum sickness shows immune complexes and low complement.

Why is "Henoch-Schonlein purpura" not the answer?

Henoch-Schonlein purpura has palpable purpura with gut and renal involvement.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Drug reactions: serum sickness-like reaction in Dermatology. Unlike true serum sickness it lacks circulating immune complexes and low complement. It resolves after stopping the drug.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Drug reactions: serum sickness-like reaction?

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.