Communicable diseases: amoebic liver abscess treatment: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Communicable diseases: amoebic liver abscess treatment

Sample item

A man with an amoebic liver abscess has been treated with a full course of metronidazole and improved. Which drug should be added to eliminate the intestinal luminal cysts?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Diloxanide furoate

Metronidazole is a tissue amoebicide but does not reliably clear the bowel lumen. A luminal amoebicide such as diloxanide furoate or paromomycin is therefore given afterwards to prevent relapse and to reduce cyst carriage and spread.

Option by option

  • A. Diloxanide furoate (correct)

    Correct. Diloxanide furoate is a luminal amoebicide that follows tissue therapy.

  • B. Mebendazole

    Mebendazole is an anthelminthic used against roundworms and has no amoebicidal action.

  • C. Praziquantel

    Praziquantel is used against schistosomes and tapeworms, not amoebae.

  • D. Albendazole

    Albendazole is used for tissue and intestinal helminths, not for amoebae.

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 PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Diloxanide furoate. Metronidazole is a tissue amoebicide but does not reliably clear the bowel lumen.

Why is "Mebendazole" not the answer?

Mebendazole is an anthelminthic used against roundworms and has no amoebicidal action.

Why is "Praziquantel" not the answer?

Praziquantel is used against schistosomes and tapeworms, not amoebae.

Why is "Albendazole" not the answer?

Albendazole is used for tissue and intestinal helminths, not for amoebae.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: amoebic liver abscess treatment in PSM. A luminal amoebicide such as diloxanide furoate or paromomycin is therefore given afterwards to prevent relapse and to reduce cyst carriage and spread.

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 Communicable diseases: amoebic liver abscess treatment?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.