Infectious diseases: tuberculosis: 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: tuberculosis

Sample item

Which feature most strongly suggests reactivation pulmonary tuberculosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Chronic cough with weight loss, night sweats, and upper-lobe cavitation

Reactivation tuberculosis often affects upper lobes and produces chronic constitutional and respiratory symptoms. Microbiologic testing is needed for diagnosis and drug-susceptibility assessment.

Option by option

  • A. Sudden calf swelling

    Calf swelling suggests venous thrombosis.

  • B. Acute wheeze after exercise

    Exercise wheeze suggests asthma.

  • C. Chronic cough with weight loss, night sweats, and upper-lobe cavitation (correct)

    Correct. The constitutional symptoms and upper-lobe cavitation are typical.

  • D. Painless jaundice

    Painless jaundice suggests biliary or 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.

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Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Chronic cough with weight loss, night sweats, and upper-lobe cavitation. Reactivation tuberculosis often affects upper lobes and produces chronic constitutional and respiratory symptoms.

Why is "Sudden calf swelling" not the answer?

Calf swelling suggests venous thrombosis.

Why is "Acute wheeze after exercise" not the answer?

Exercise wheeze suggests asthma.

Why is "Painless jaundice" not the answer?

Painless jaundice suggests biliary or pancreatic disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious diseases: tuberculosis in General Medicine. Microbiologic testing is needed for diagnosis and drug-susceptibility assessment.

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: tuberculosis?

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.