Infections in pregnancy: parvovirus B19: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Infections in pregnancy: parvovirus B19

Sample item

A schoolteacher at 18 weeks has had contact with erythema infectiosum and now has a positive IgM for parvovirus B19. Which fetal complication should be monitored for?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Fetal anaemia leading to non-immune hydrops

Parvovirus B19 infects erythroid precursors and can cause severe fetal anaemia, high-output cardiac failure and hydrops, mostly in the first 20 weeks. Serial middle cerebral artery Doppler detects anaemia, and intrauterine transfusion is used for treatment. Many infected fetuses recover spontaneously.

Option by option

  • A. Fetal anaemia leading to non-immune hydrops (correct)

    Correct. The virus targets red cell precursors and causes anaemia and hydrops.

  • B. Fetal limb hypoplasia

    Limb hypoplasia is a feature of congenital varicella syndrome.

  • C. Microcephaly with intracranial calcification

    Microcephaly with calcification suggests CMV or Zika.

  • D. Congenital cataract

    Cataract is typical of congenital rubella.

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 OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Fetal anaemia leading to non-immune hydrops. Parvovirus B19 infects erythroid precursors and can cause severe fetal anaemia, high-output cardiac failure and hydrops, mostly in the first 20 weeks.

Why is "Fetal limb hypoplasia" not the answer?

Limb hypoplasia is a feature of congenital varicella syndrome.

Why is "Microcephaly with intracranial calcification" not the answer?

Microcephaly with calcification suggests CMV or Zika.

Why is "Congenital cataract" not the answer?

Cataract is typical of congenital rubella.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections in pregnancy: parvovirus B19 in OBG. Serial middle cerebral artery Doppler detects anaemia, and intrauterine transfusion is used for treatment. Many infected fetuses recover spontaneously.

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 in pregnancy: parvovirus B19?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.