STI: mucous patches of secondary syphilis: 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 · STI: mucous patches of secondary syphilis

Sample item

A young adult has a symmetric coppery rash on the trunk and palms and painless greyish-white superficial erosions on the tongue and buccal mucosa. What are the oral lesions called?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Mucous patches

Mucous patches are painless, greyish, eroded plaques of the mucosa in secondary syphilis, and they teem with spirochaetes, making them highly infectious. They can coalesce into serpiginous snail-track ulcers.

Option by option

  • A. Mucous patches (correct)

    Correct. Mucous patches are the oral lesions of secondary syphilis.

  • B. Oral hairy leukoplakia

    Oral hairy leukoplakia is a white corrugated plaque of the lateral tongue in immunosuppression.

  • C. Koplik spots

    Koplik spots are blue-white spots on the buccal mucosa in measles.

  • D. Aphthous ulcers

    Aphthous ulcers are painful, round, shallow ulcers with a red halo.

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 A, Mucous patches. Mucous patches are painless, greyish, eroded plaques of the mucosa in secondary syphilis, and they teem with spirochaetes, making them highly infectious.

Why is "Oral hairy leukoplakia" not the answer?

Oral hairy leukoplakia is a white corrugated plaque of the lateral tongue in immunosuppression.

Why is "Koplik spots" not the answer?

Koplik spots are blue-white spots on the buccal mucosa in measles.

Why is "Aphthous ulcers" not the answer?

Aphthous ulcers are painful, round, shallow ulcers with a red halo.

What concept does this question test?

It tests STI: mucous patches of secondary syphilis in Dermatology. They can coalesce into serpiginous snail-track ulcers.

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 STI: mucous patches of secondary syphilis?

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.