Hair disorders: 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 · Hair disorders

Sample item

A child has patchy hair loss with scalp scale and broken hairs. What diagnosis is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Tinea capitis

Tinea capitis is a dermatophyte infection of scalp hair that often causes scale, broken hairs, and patchy alopecia in children.

Option by option

  • A. Vitiligo

    Vitiligo changes pigmentation rather than hair shafts primarily.

  • B. Herpes labialis

    Herpes labialis affects the lips.

  • C. Androgenetic alopecia

    Androgenetic alopecia has a different age and pattern.

  • D. Tinea capitis (correct)

    Correct: scalp dermatophyte infection causes this pattern.

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 D, Tinea capitis. Tinea capitis is a dermatophyte infection of scalp hair that often causes scale, broken hairs, and patchy alopecia in children.

Why is "Vitiligo" not the answer?

Vitiligo changes pigmentation rather than hair shafts primarily.

Why is "Herpes labialis" not the answer?

Herpes labialis affects the lips.

Why is "Androgenetic alopecia" not the answer?

Androgenetic alopecia has a different age and pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hair disorders in Dermatology. The correct option holds because: Correct: scalp dermatophyte infection causes this pattern.

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 Hair disorders?

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.