Infectious diseases: malaria: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Infectious diseases: malaria

Sample item

A traveler returning from a malaria-endemic area has fever, rigors, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and confusion. What is the key diagnostic test?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Urgent malaria blood films or rapid antigen testing

Malaria must be urgently tested for in a febrile traveler from endemic areas, especially with severe features such as altered consciousness. Repeated testing may be needed when initial films are negative but suspicion remains.

Option by option

  • A. Routine urine dipstick only

    Urine testing cannot exclude malaria.

  • B. Urgent malaria blood films or rapid antigen testing (correct)

    Correct. Blood testing directly assesses for malaria parasites or antigen.

  • C. Plain abdominal radiograph

    Abdominal radiography does not diagnose parasitemia.

  • D. Serum amylase only

    Amylase evaluates pancreatic disease.

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 General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Urgent malaria blood films or rapid antigen testing. Malaria must be urgently tested for in a febrile traveler from endemic areas, especially with severe features such as altered consciousness.

Why is "Routine urine dipstick only" not the answer?

Urine testing cannot exclude malaria.

Why is "Plain abdominal radiograph" not the answer?

Abdominal radiography does not diagnose parasitemia.

Why is "Serum amylase only" not the answer?

Amylase evaluates pancreatic disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious diseases: malaria in General Medicine. Repeated testing may be needed when initial films are negative but suspicion remains.

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 diseases: malaria?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.