Leprosy: contact screening and self-care: 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 · Leprosy: contact screening and self-care

Sample item

A newly detected leprosy patient has five household members. What is the appropriate public health action?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Examine all household contacts for signs of leprosy, and repeat periodically

Household contacts have the highest risk of infection and should be examined at detection and followed up. Patients are not isolated, because infectiousness falls rapidly once multidrug therapy starts. Patients with anaesthetic limbs also need teaching on daily inspection, soaking, oiling and protection from injury.

Option by option

  • A. No action is needed since treated patients are not infectious

    Contacts still need screening because of ongoing exposure before diagnosis.

  • B. Give BCG to the patient only

    BCG for the patient does not replace contact examination.

  • C. Isolate the patient in a leprosarium

    Isolation is outdated and stigmatising; treatment makes patients non-infectious quickly.

  • D. Examine all household contacts for signs of leprosy, and repeat periodically (correct)

    Correct. Contact examination is part of leprosy control.

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, Examine all household contacts for signs of leprosy, and repeat periodically. Household contacts have the highest risk of infection and should be examined at detection and followed up.

Why is "No action is needed since treated patients are not infectious" not the answer?

Contacts still need screening because of ongoing exposure before diagnosis.

Why is "Give BCG to the patient only" not the answer?

BCG for the patient does not replace contact examination.

Why is "Isolate the patient in a leprosarium" not the answer?

Isolation is outdated and stigmatising; treatment makes patients non-infectious quickly.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Leprosy: contact screening and self-care in Dermatology. Patients are not isolated, because infectiousness falls rapidly once multidrug therapy starts. Patients with anaesthetic limbs also need teaching on daily inspection, soaking, oiling and protection from injury.

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 Leprosy: contact screening and self-care?

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.