Drug reactions: morbilliform drug eruption: 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: morbilliform drug eruption

Sample item

A boy is started on amoxicillin for sore throat and 8 days later develops a symmetrical blanching erythematous macular and papular rash on the trunk with no fever, mucosal lesions or blisters. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Morbilliform (exanthematous) drug eruption

Morbilliform drug eruption is the commonest cutaneous drug reaction and appears about 7 to 10 days after starting the drug, as a symmetrical rash that looks like measles. The absence of fever, mucosal involvement, facial oedema, eosinophilia or blisters argues against severe reactions. Management is withdrawal of the culprit, antihistamines and topical steroids, with monitoring for escalation.

Option by option

  • A. Morbilliform (exanthematous) drug eruption (correct)

    Correct. A blanching symmetrical rash around day 8 without alarm features is morbilliform eruption.

  • B. Fixed drug eruption

    Fixed drug eruption recurs at the same site as a well-defined round plaque.

  • C. DRESS syndrome

    DRESS has fever, facial oedema, eosinophilia and organ involvement.

  • D. Stevens-Johnson syndrome

    SJS has mucosal erosions and skin pain with blisters.

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 Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Morbilliform (exanthematous) drug eruption. Morbilliform drug eruption is the commonest cutaneous drug reaction and appears about 7 to 10 days after starting the drug, as a symmetrical rash that looks like measles.

Why is "Fixed drug eruption" not the answer?

Fixed drug eruption recurs at the same site as a well-defined round plaque.

Why is "DRESS syndrome" not the answer?

DRESS has fever, facial oedema, eosinophilia and organ involvement.

Why is "Stevens-Johnson syndrome" not the answer?

SJS has mucosal erosions and skin pain with blisters.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Drug reactions: morbilliform drug eruption in Dermatology. The absence of fever, mucosal involvement, facial oedema, eosinophilia or blisters argues against severe reactions. Management is withdrawal of the culprit, antihistamines and topical steroids, with monitoring for escalation.

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: morbilliform drug eruption?

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.