Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: erythema marginatum: 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 · Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: erythema marginatum

Sample item

A 9-year-old has fever, a swollen painful knee that improved as the ankle became swollen, and a new apical murmur. He also has evanescent pink rings with clear centres on the trunk and proximal limbs, sparing the face, which are non-itchy and become more obvious after a warm bath. Which rash is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Erythema marginatum

Erythema marginatum is a major Jones criterion of rheumatic fever, seen as transient annular or serpiginous erythema on the trunk and proximal limbs that spares the face. It is brought out by heat and is not pruritic. It occurs with migratory polyarthritis and carditis.

Option by option

  • A. Erythema migrans

    Erythema migrans is a single expanding ring at a tick bite in Lyme disease and does not come and go.

  • B. Erythema multiforme

    Erythema multiforme gives fixed target lesions on the acral sites, often after herpes simplex.

  • C. Erythema marginatum (correct)

    Correct. Evanescent rings on the trunk with sparing of the face in a child with arthritis and carditis fit rheumatic fever.

  • D. Erythema nodosum

    Erythema nodosum gives tender red nodules on the shins, not pink rings on the trunk.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is C, Erythema marginatum. Erythema marginatum is a major Jones criterion of rheumatic fever, seen as transient annular or serpiginous erythema on the trunk and proximal limbs that spares the face.

Why is "Erythema migrans" not the answer?

Erythema migrans is a single expanding ring at a tick bite in Lyme disease and does not come and go.

Why is "Erythema multiforme" not the answer?

Erythema multiforme gives fixed target lesions on the acral sites, often after herpes simplex.

Why is "Erythema nodosum" not the answer?

Erythema nodosum gives tender red nodules on the shins, not pink rings on the trunk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: erythema marginatum in Dermatology. It is brought out by heat and is not pruritic. It occurs with migratory polyarthritis and carditis.

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 Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: erythema marginatum?

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.