STI: urinary retention in primary genital herpes: 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 · STI: urinary retention in primary genital herpes

Sample item

A woman with a first episode of genital herpes develops difficulty in passing urine, perineal numbness and constipation. What is the mechanism?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Sacral radiculitis causing autonomic neuropathy

Primary herpes can spread along sacral nerve roots and cause radiculomyelitis, with urinary retention, constipation and sacral anaesthesia. It is usually self-limiting but may need catheterisation.

Option by option

  • A. A bladder calculus

    A bladder calculus causes pain and haematuria, not perineal numbness and constipation.

  • B. Sacral radiculitis causing autonomic neuropathy (correct)

    Correct. Sacral radiculitis with autonomic dysfunction explains the retention and constipation.

  • C. Bacterial cystitis from ascending infection

    Bacterial cystitis causes dysuria and frequency but not perineal numbness and constipation.

  • D. Obstruction of the urethra by a stricture

    A urethral stricture is a late complication of gonorrhoea, not an acute herpes complication.

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 B, Sacral radiculitis causing autonomic neuropathy. Primary herpes can spread along sacral nerve roots and cause radiculomyelitis, with urinary retention, constipation and sacral anaesthesia.

Why is "A bladder calculus" not the answer?

A bladder calculus causes pain and haematuria, not perineal numbness and constipation.

Why is "Bacterial cystitis from ascending infection" not the answer?

Bacterial cystitis causes dysuria and frequency but not perineal numbness and constipation.

Why is "Obstruction of the urethra by a stricture" not the answer?

A urethral stricture is a late complication of gonorrhoea, not an acute herpes complication.

What concept does this question test?

It tests STI: urinary retention in primary genital herpes in Dermatology. It is usually self-limiting but may need catheterisation.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: urinary retention in primary genital herpes?

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.