Infectious disease: practice question

A Pediatrics 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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Pediatrics · Infectious disease

Sample item

What does a nonblanching rash with fever raise concern for?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Meningococcal disease

Fever with a nonblanching petechial or purpuric rash can indicate invasive meningococcal infection and requires urgent emergency assessment and treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Dental caries

    Dental caries does not cause a febrile purpuric rash.

  • B. Meningococcal disease (correct)

    Correct: fever with nonblanching rash is a meningococcal red flag.

  • C. Otitis externa

    Otitis externa is localized ear-canal inflammation.

  • D. Simple eczema

    Eczema is usually itchy and blanching rather than purpuric.

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 Pediatrics questions

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, Meningococcal disease. Fever with a nonblanching petechial or purpuric rash can indicate invasive meningococcal infection and requires urgent emergency assessment and treatment.

Why is "Dental caries" not the answer?

Dental caries does not cause a febrile purpuric rash.

Why is "Otitis externa" not the answer?

Otitis externa is localized ear-canal inflammation.

Why is "Simple eczema" not the answer?

Eczema is usually itchy and blanching rather than purpuric.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious disease in Pediatrics. The correct option holds because: Correct: fever with nonblanching rash is a meningococcal red flag.

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 Infectious disease?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.