Paediatric infections: visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis: practice question

A Pediatrics 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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Pediatrics · Paediatric infections: visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis

Sample item

A 6-year-old from eastern India has 3 months of irregular fever, weight loss and a huge spleen reaching the umbilicus, with pancytopenia and hypergammaglobulinaemia. Which rapid bedside test supports the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. rK39 immunochromatographic strip test

Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) presents with prolonged fever, massive splenomegaly and pancytopenia. The rK39 rapid strip detects antibody and is used in field diagnosis, while splenic or bone marrow smears showing LD bodies confirm. Treatment under the national programme is liposomal amphotericin B.

Option by option

  • A. QBC for malaria parasites

    Malaria tests do not detect Leishmania.

  • B. rK39 immunochromatographic strip test (correct)

    Correct. rK39 strip test is the standard rapid test for kala-azar.

  • C. Mantoux test

    Mantoux is not a diagnostic test for kala-azar.

  • D. Widal test

    Widal tests for enteric fever and does not explain pancytopenia with massive splenomegaly.

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 Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, rK39 immunochromatographic strip test. Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) presents with prolonged fever, massive splenomegaly and pancytopenia.

Why is "QBC for malaria parasites" not the answer?

Malaria tests do not detect Leishmania.

Why is "Mantoux test" not the answer?

Mantoux is not a diagnostic test for kala-azar.

Why is "Widal test" not the answer?

Widal tests for enteric fever and does not explain pancytopenia with massive splenomegaly.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric infections: visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis in Pediatrics. The rK39 rapid strip detects antibody and is used in field diagnosis, while splenic or bone marrow smears showing LD bodies confirm. Treatment under the national programme is liposomal amphotericin B.

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 Paediatric infections: visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.