Trauma and burns: silver sulfadiazine: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Trauma and burns: silver sulfadiazine

Sample item

A surgeon applies silver sulfadiazine to a large partial-thickness burn. Which adverse effect is characteristic of this agent?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Transient leukopenia

Silver sulfadiazine can cause transient neutropenia, which usually recovers without stopping the drug. It penetrates eschar poorly and is avoided in sulfonamide allergy. Mafenide causes metabolic acidosis, and silver nitrate leaches electrolytes and stains tissue.

Option by option

  • A. Metabolic acidosis

    Metabolic acidosis is characteristic of mafenide through carbonic anhydrase inhibition.

  • B. Severe pain on application

    Pain on application is a feature of mafenide, whereas silver sulfadiazine is soothing.

  • C. Transient leukopenia (correct)

    Correct. Transient leukopenia is the typical systemic effect of silver sulfadiazine.

  • D. Hyponatraemia with black staining

    Hyponatraemia with black staining is typical of silver nitrate.

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 General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Transient leukopenia. Silver sulfadiazine can cause transient neutropenia, which usually recovers without stopping the drug.

Why is "Metabolic acidosis" not the answer?

Metabolic acidosis is characteristic of mafenide through carbonic anhydrase inhibition.

Why is "Severe pain on application" not the answer?

Pain on application is a feature of mafenide, whereas silver sulfadiazine is soothing.

Why is "Hyponatraemia with black staining" not the answer?

Hyponatraemia with black staining is typical of silver nitrate.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Trauma and burns: silver sulfadiazine in General Surgery. It penetrates eschar poorly and is avoided in sulfonamide allergy. Mafenide causes metabolic acidosis, and silver nitrate leaches electrolytes and stains tissue.

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 Trauma and burns: silver sulfadiazine?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.