Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: primary herpetic gingivostomatitis: 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.

Try it

Dermatology · Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: primary herpetic gingivostomatitis

Sample item

A 3-year-old has fever, drooling, refusal to feed, swollen bleeding gums and clusters of small vesicles around the lips. The hands and feet are normal. Which virus is the most likely cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Herpes simplex virus type 1

Primary infection with HSV-1 in early childhood commonly presents as painful gingivostomatitis with perioral vesicles and fever. Oral acyclovir shortens the illness if started early, and fluids must be maintained.

Option by option

  • A. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (correct)

    Correct. Primary HSV-1 gives gingivostomatitis with perioral vesicles in young children.

  • B. Coxsackievirus A16

    Coxsackie A16 causes hand, foot and mouth disease, with lesions on palms and soles.

  • C. Herpes simplex virus type 2

    HSV-2 is mainly genital and neonatal, and rarely causes this picture in a toddler.

  • D. Varicella zoster virus

    VZV gives scattered vesicles in crops over the body, not isolated perioral and gingival 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 Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Herpes simplex virus type 1. Primary infection with HSV-1 in early childhood commonly presents as painful gingivostomatitis with perioral vesicles and fever.

Why is "Coxsackievirus A16" not the answer?

Coxsackie A16 causes hand, foot and mouth disease, with lesions on palms and soles.

Why is "Herpes simplex virus type 2" not the answer?

HSV-2 is mainly genital and neonatal, and rarely causes this picture in a toddler.

Why is "Varicella zoster virus" not the answer?

VZV gives scattered vesicles in crops over the body, not isolated perioral and gingival disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: primary herpetic gingivostomatitis in Dermatology. Oral acyclovir shortens the illness if started early, and fluids must be maintained.

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: primary herpetic gingivostomatitis?

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.