Bacterial infections: Lyme disease: 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 · Bacterial infections: Lyme disease

Sample item

A hiker returns with an expanding annular red patch with central clearing at the site of a tick bite, along with mild fever. What is the treatment of choice in an adult?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Oral doxycycline for 10 to 14 days

Erythema migrans of early Lyme disease is due to Borrelia burgdorferi from Ixodes ticks. Doxycycline is the first-line therapy and prevents later cardiac, neurological and joint disease.

Option by option

  • A. Oral acyclovir

    Acyclovir targets herpesviruses and has no activity against spirochaetes.

  • B. Oral doxycycline for 10 to 14 days (correct)

    Correct. Doxycycline treats early localised Lyme disease.

  • C. Oral fluconazole

    Fluconazole treats fungi, which are not the cause.

  • D. Topical corticosteroid

    Topical steroids would not treat the infection and could worsen it.

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, Oral doxycycline for 10 to 14 days. Erythema migrans of early Lyme disease is due to Borrelia burgdorferi from Ixodes ticks.

Why is "Oral acyclovir" not the answer?

Acyclovir targets herpesviruses and has no activity against spirochaetes.

Why is "Oral fluconazole" not the answer?

Fluconazole treats fungi, which are not the cause.

Why is "Topical corticosteroid" not the answer?

Topical steroids would not treat the infection and could worsen it.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bacterial infections: Lyme disease in Dermatology. Doxycycline is the first-line therapy and prevents later cardiac, neurological and joint disease.

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 Bacterial infections: Lyme disease?

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.