Infectious diseases: rabies post-exposure prophylaxis: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Infectious diseases: rabies post-exposure prophylaxis

Sample item

A man is bitten on the face by a stray dog and the wound is bleeding. How is this managed?

ATight suturing of the wound with no immunoglobulinBWait for observation of the dog for ten days before any treatmentCWound washing with soap and water, rabies immunoglobulin infiltration around the wound, and a full vaccine courseDRabies vaccine alone without wound care

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Wound washing with soap and water, rabies immunoglobulin infiltration around the wound, and a full vaccine course

A bleeding bite on the head and face is a category III exposure. It needs thorough washing for 15 minutes, infiltration of rabies immunoglobulin into and around the wounds as much as anatomically possible, and cell-culture vaccine, intradermal or intramuscular. Wounds are not sutured tightly.

Option by option

A. Tight suturing of the wound with no immunoglobulin
Tight suturing can trap virus and immunoglobulin is required.
B. Wait for observation of the dog for ten days before any treatment
Waiting is unsafe for a stray animal and a high-risk site.
C. Wound washing with soap and water, rabies immunoglobulin infiltration around the wound, and a full vaccine course (correct)
Correct. Wash, infiltrate immunoglobulin and vaccinate for category III exposure.
D. Rabies vaccine alone without wound care
Vaccine alone is insufficient for category III wounds because antibodies take days to develop.

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.

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Wound washing with soap and water, rabies immunoglobulin infiltration around the wound, and a full vaccine course. A bleeding bite on the head and face is a category III exposure.

Why is "Tight suturing of the wound with no immunoglobulin" not the answer?

Tight suturing can trap virus and immunoglobulin is required.

Why is "Wait for observation of the dog for ten days before any treatment" not the answer?

Waiting is unsafe for a stray animal and a high-risk site.

Why is "Rabies vaccine alone without wound care" not the answer?

Vaccine alone is insufficient for category III wounds because antibodies take days to develop.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious diseases: rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in General Medicine. It needs thorough washing for 15 minutes, infiltration of rabies immunoglobulin into and around the wounds as much as anatomically possible, and cell-culture vaccine, intradermal or intramuscular. Wounds are not sutured tightly.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Infectious diseases: rabies post-exposure prophylaxis?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.