Community dentistry: glove dermatitis mechanisms: practice question

A Dentistry 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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Dentistry · Community dentistry: glove dermatitis mechanisms

Sample item

A dentist develops itchy, scaly, vesicular dermatitis on both hands 24 to 48 hours after glove use, and a patch test is positive to thiuram. What is the mechanism?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Type IV delayed hypersensitivity to accelerators

Allergic contact dermatitis to rubber accelerators such as thiurams is a type IV (cell-mediated) delayed reaction appearing 24 to 72 hours later and confirmed by patch testing. Latex protein allergy is a type I reaction with urticaria, rhinitis or anaphylaxis within minutes. Irritant dermatitis is non-immune and patch tests are negative.

Option by option

  • A. Type I IgE-mediated allergy to latex proteins

    Type I latex allergy appears within minutes and causes urticaria or wheeze, not delayed eczema.

  • B. Type III immune complex reaction in the skin

    Type III reactions involve immune complexes and do not produce localised contact eczema.

  • C. Irritant contact dermatitis from frequent hand washing

    Irritant dermatitis is non-allergic and would not give a positive patch test to thiuram.

  • D. Type IV delayed hypersensitivity to accelerators (correct)

    Correct. A delayed eczema with positive patch test points to type IV hypersensitivity.

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 Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is D, Type IV delayed hypersensitivity to accelerators. Allergic contact dermatitis to rubber accelerators such as thiurams is a type IV (cell-mediated) delayed reaction appearing 24 to 72 hours later and confirmed by patch testing.

Why is "Type I IgE-mediated allergy to latex proteins" not the answer?

Type I latex allergy appears within minutes and causes urticaria or wheeze, not delayed eczema.

Why is "Type III immune complex reaction in the skin" not the answer?

Type III reactions involve immune complexes and do not produce localised contact eczema.

Why is "Irritant contact dermatitis from frequent hand washing" not the answer?

Irritant dermatitis is non-allergic and would not give a positive patch test to thiuram.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community dentistry: glove dermatitis mechanisms in Dentistry. Latex protein allergy is a type I reaction with urticaria, rhinitis or anaphylaxis within minutes. Irritant dermatitis is non-immune and patch tests are negative.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Community dentistry: glove dermatitis mechanisms?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry 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.