Infections: TB preventive therapy: 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 · Infections: TB preventive therapy

Sample item

A 3-year-old asymptomatic child is a household contact of a sputum smear-positive father. What is the recommended management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Rule out active TB, then isoniazid preventive therapy for 6 months

Asymptomatic children under 6 years who are household contacts of a pulmonary TB case should receive isoniazid preventive therapy after active disease has been excluded. Shorter rifamycin-based preventive regimens are also in use. Repeat BCG does not offer additional protection.

Option by option

  • A. No action required

    Young contacts are at high risk of progression.

  • B. Rule out active TB, then isoniazid preventive therapy for 6 months (correct)

    Correct. Exclude active disease then give preventive therapy.

  • C. BCG booster

    BCG revaccination is not recommended.

  • D. Four-drug therapy for 6 months

    Four-drug therapy is for active disease.

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, Rule out active TB, then isoniazid preventive therapy for 6 months. Asymptomatic children under 6 years who are household contacts of a pulmonary TB case should receive isoniazid preventive therapy after active disease has been excluded.

Why is "No action required" not the answer?

Young contacts are at high risk of progression.

Why is "BCG booster" not the answer?

BCG revaccination is not recommended.

Why is "Four-drug therapy for 6 months" not the answer?

Four-drug therapy is for active disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: TB preventive therapy in Pediatrics. Shorter rifamycin-based preventive regimens are also in use. Repeat BCG does not offer additional protection.

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 Infections: TB preventive therapy?

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.