Communicable diseases: tuberculosis preventive treatment: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Communicable diseases: tuberculosis preventive treatment

Sample item

A 3-year-old boy weighing 12 kg lives with his mother, who has newly diagnosed sputum-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. The child is asymptomatic, and his examination and chest radiograph are normal. What should be done under the National TB Elimination Programme?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Give TB preventive treatment after excluding active disease

Household contacts below 6 years of a microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB patient are offered TB preventive treatment after active TB has been excluded by symptom screening and, where indicated, investigation. This reduces the risk of progression to disease, especially disseminated forms in young children. The contact must be followed up for symptoms.

Option by option

  • A. Give a repeat BCG dose

    Repeat BCG is not recommended and does not protect against infection from a close household source case.

  • B. Give the full four-drug anti-tubercular regimen

    Four-drug therapy is for active disease, which has been excluded by the normal examination and radiograph.

  • C. Observe him and treat only if symptoms appear

    Waiting for symptoms ignores the high risk of severe TB in young children after exposure.

  • D. Give TB preventive treatment after excluding active disease (correct)

    Correct. Preventive therapy is indicated for asymptomatic young household contacts without active 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 PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Give TB preventive treatment after excluding active disease. Household contacts below 6 years of a microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB patient are offered TB preventive treatment after active TB has been excluded by symptom screening and, where indicated, investigation.

Why is "Give a repeat BCG dose" not the answer?

Repeat BCG is not recommended and does not protect against infection from a close household source case.

Why is "Give the full four-drug anti-tubercular regimen" not the answer?

Four-drug therapy is for active disease, which has been excluded by the normal examination and radiograph.

Why is "Observe him and treat only if symptoms appear" not the answer?

Waiting for symptoms ignores the high risk of severe TB in young children after exposure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: tuberculosis preventive treatment in PSM. This reduces the risk of progression to disease, especially disseminated forms in young children. The contact must be followed up for symptoms.

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 Communicable diseases: tuberculosis preventive treatment?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.