Head and neck: cat scratch disease: practice question

A ENT 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.

Try it

ENT · Head and neck: cat scratch disease

Sample item

A child has a tender enlarged preauricular node 2 weeks after a kitten scratch, with a small papule at the scratch site. Which organism is responsible?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Bartonella henselae

Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae and gives regional lymphadenopathy proximal to the inoculation site. It is self-limiting in most patients. Azithromycin is used in severe or disseminated cases.

Option by option

  • A. Staphylococcus aureus alone

    Staphylococcal adenitis is acute and suppurative.

  • B. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

    Tuberculosis is a chronic infection with caseation.

  • C. Bartonella henselae (correct)

    Correct. Bartonella henselae causes cat scratch disease.

  • D. Francisella tularensis

    Tularemia follows rabbit or tick exposure.

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 ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Bartonella henselae. Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae and gives regional lymphadenopathy proximal to the inoculation site.

Why is "Staphylococcus aureus alone" not the answer?

Staphylococcal adenitis is acute and suppurative.

Why is "Mycobacterium tuberculosis" not the answer?

Tuberculosis is a chronic infection with caseation.

Why is "Francisella tularensis" not the answer?

Tularemia follows rabbit or tick exposure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: cat scratch disease in ENT. It is self-limiting in most patients. Azithromycin is used in severe or disseminated cases.

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 Head and neck: cat scratch disease?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.