Congenital infections: varicella: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Congenital infections: varicella

Sample item

A non-immune pregnant woman at 24 weeks is exposed to chickenpox 4 days ago. What is the appropriate action?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Varicella zoster immunoglobulin within 10 days of exposure

Non-immune pregnant women exposed to varicella should receive VZIG as soon as possible and within 10 days. Oral acyclovir is given if the rash develops, especially in pregnancy after 20 weeks. Live vaccine is contraindicated in pregnancy.

Option by option

  • A. No action is possible

    Post-exposure prophylaxis is available.

  • B. Termination of pregnancy

    Termination is not required.

  • C. Live varicella vaccine

    Live vaccine is contraindicated.

  • D. Varicella zoster immunoglobulin within 10 days of exposure (correct)

    Correct. VZIG protects against severe maternal varicella.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is D, Varicella zoster immunoglobulin within 10 days of exposure. Non-immune pregnant women exposed to varicella should receive VZIG as soon as possible and within 10 days.

Why is "No action is possible" not the answer?

Post-exposure prophylaxis is available.

Why is "Termination of pregnancy" not the answer?

Termination is not required.

Why is "Live varicella vaccine" not the answer?

Live vaccine is contraindicated.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Congenital infections: varicella in OBG. Oral acyclovir is given if the rash develops, especially in pregnancy after 20 weeks. Live vaccine is contraindicated in pregnancy.

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 Congenital infections: varicella?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.