Infections: congenital toxoplasmosis: 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: congenital toxoplasmosis

Sample item

A newborn has hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis and diffuse intracranial calcifications. The mother had contact with cats. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Congenital toxoplasmosis

The classic triad of toxoplasmosis is hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis and intracranial calcifications. Maternal infection is acquired from cat faeces or undercooked meat. Treatment is pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine and folinic acid.

Option by option

  • A. Neonatal herpes

    Neonatal herpes causes skin and CNS disease.

  • B. Congenital CMV

    CMV calcifications are periventricular.

  • C. Congenital rubella

    Rubella gives cataract and heart disease.

  • D. Congenital toxoplasmosis (correct)

    Correct. This triad indicates toxoplasmosis.

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 Pediatrics questions

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is D, Congenital toxoplasmosis. The classic triad of toxoplasmosis is hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis and intracranial calcifications.

Why is "Neonatal herpes" not the answer?

Neonatal herpes causes skin and CNS disease.

Why is "Congenital CMV" not the answer?

CMV calcifications are periventricular.

Why is "Congenital rubella" not the answer?

Rubella gives cataract and heart disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: congenital toxoplasmosis in Pediatrics. Maternal infection is acquired from cat faeces or undercooked meat. Treatment is pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine and folinic acid.

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: congenital toxoplasmosis?

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.