STI: general paresis: 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: general paresis

Sample item

A 50-year-old man with untreated syphilis has progressive memory loss, grandiose delusions, tremors of the lips and tongue, and Argyll Robertson pupils. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. General paresis of the insane

General paresis is parenchymatous neurosyphilis with cortical atrophy, causing dementia, personality change, grandiosity and tremor of the lips, tongue and hands. It appears 15 to 20 years after the primary infection.

Option by option

  • A. Tabes dorsalis

    Tabes dorsalis is a posterior column disease with ataxia and lightning pains but little dementia.

  • B. Meningovascular syphilis

    Meningovascular syphilis presents with stroke-like deficits from endarteritis.

  • C. General paresis of the insane (correct)

    Correct. Dementia with grandiosity and facial tremor is characteristic of general paresis.

  • D. Syphilitic meningitis

    Syphilitic meningitis is an early illness with headache and cranial nerve palsies.

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 C, General paresis of the insane. General paresis is parenchymatous neurosyphilis with cortical atrophy, causing dementia, personality change, grandiosity and tremor of the lips, tongue and hands.

Why is "Tabes dorsalis" not the answer?

Tabes dorsalis is a posterior column disease with ataxia and lightning pains but little dementia.

Why is "Meningovascular syphilis" not the answer?

Meningovascular syphilis presents with stroke-like deficits from endarteritis.

Why is "Syphilitic meningitis" not the answer?

Syphilitic meningitis is an early illness with headache and cranial nerve palsies.

What concept does this question test?

It tests STI: general paresis in Dermatology. It appears 15 to 20 years after the primary infection.

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: general paresis?

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.