STI: treatment of late latent 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: treatment of late latent syphilis

Sample item

A patient has reactive treponemal and non-treponemal tests, no symptoms, and no documentation of when the infection was acquired. How is he treated?

ABenzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units intramuscularly weekly for 3 weeksBDoxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 daysCProcaine penicillin 1.2 million units daily for 3 daysDBenzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units as a single dose

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units intramuscularly weekly for 3 weeks

Latent syphilis of unknown duration is managed as late latent disease with three weekly doses of benzathine penicillin G, a total of 7.2 million units. A single dose is used for early syphilis.

Option by option

A. Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units intramuscularly weekly for 3 weeks (correct)
Correct. Late or unknown-duration latent syphilis needs three weekly benzathine penicillin doses.
B. Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days
A 7-day doxycycline course is too short for any stage of syphilis.
C. Procaine penicillin 1.2 million units daily for 3 days
A 3-day procaine penicillin course is not an accepted regimen for latent syphilis.
D. Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units as a single dose
A single dose is the regimen for early syphilis.

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.

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units intramuscularly weekly for 3 weeks. Latent syphilis of unknown duration is managed as late latent disease with three weekly doses of benzathine penicillin G, a total of 7.

Why is "Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days" not the answer?

A 7-day doxycycline course is too short for any stage of syphilis.

Why is "Procaine penicillin 1.2 million units daily for 3 days" not the answer?

A 3-day procaine penicillin course is not an accepted regimen for latent syphilis.

Why is "Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units as a single dose" not the answer?

A single dose is the regimen for early syphilis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests STI: treatment of late latent syphilis in Dermatology. 2 million units. A single dose is used for early syphilis.

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: treatment of late latent 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.