Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: bed bug bites: 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: bed bug bites

Sample item

A woman wakes with three itchy erythematous papules in a straight line on her exposed forearm, and her partner has similar lesions. There are no burrows, and nothing is found on her body. Which is the most likely source?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Cimex lectularius hiding in the mattress seams

Bed bugs feed at night on exposed skin and then retreat to mattress seams, bed frames and furniture cracks. They typically cause grouped or linear itchy papules, sometimes called breakfast, lunch and dinner. Treatment is symptomatic, with eradication from the bedroom.

Option by option

  • A. Cimex lectularius hiding in the mattress seams (correct)

    Correct. Linear groups of bites on exposed skin on waking, with the bed partner affected, suggest bed bugs.

  • B. Ctenocephalides felis in a pet's bedding

    Cat fleas bite mainly the ankles and lower legs, usually with a pet involved.

  • C. Pediculus humanus capitis in the hair

    Head lice cause scalp itch and nits on the hair shafts, not forearm bites.

  • D. Sarcoptes scabiei mites in the stratum corneum

    Scabies produces burrows with web-space and genital involvement, not linear exposed-area bites.

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 Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Cimex lectularius hiding in the mattress seams. Bed bugs feed at night on exposed skin and then retreat to mattress seams, bed frames and furniture cracks.

Why is "Ctenocephalides felis in a pet's bedding" not the answer?

Cat fleas bite mainly the ankles and lower legs, usually with a pet involved.

Why is "Pediculus humanus capitis in the hair" not the answer?

Head lice cause scalp itch and nits on the hair shafts, not forearm bites.

Why is "Sarcoptes scabiei mites in the stratum corneum" not the answer?

Scabies produces burrows with web-space and genital involvement, not linear exposed-area bites.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: bed bug bites in Dermatology. They typically cause grouped or linear itchy papules, sometimes called breakfast, lunch and dinner. Treatment is symptomatic, with eradication from the bedroom.

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: bed bug bites?

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.