Infectious diseases: prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: 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: prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Sample item

A woman is newly diagnosed with HIV infection at 20 weeks of pregnancy. What is the approach under NACO guidelines?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Start lifelong antiretroviral therapy immediately, regardless of CD4 count

All pregnant and breastfeeding women with HIV are started on lifelong triple antiretroviral therapy as early as possible, irrespective of CD4 count or clinical stage. Viral suppression reduces transmission to under 1 to 2 percent, and the infant receives prophylaxis after birth. Delaying treatment increases risk.

Option by option

  • A. Start therapy only if CD4 is below 350

    CD4-based thresholds no longer apply.

  • B. Start lifelong antiretroviral therapy immediately, regardless of CD4 count (correct)

    Correct. Immediate lifelong ART is recommended.

  • C. Defer treatment until after delivery

    Deferring treatment increases mother-to-child transmission.

  • D. Give zidovudine only until delivery

    Short-course monotherapy is outdated.

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 General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Start lifelong antiretroviral therapy immediately, regardless of CD4 count. All pregnant and breastfeeding women with HIV are started on lifelong triple antiretroviral therapy as early as possible, irrespective of CD4 count or clinical stage.

Why is "Start therapy only if CD4 is below 350" not the answer?

CD4-based thresholds no longer apply.

Why is "Defer treatment until after delivery" not the answer?

Deferring treatment increases mother-to-child transmission.

Why is "Give zidovudine only until delivery" not the answer?

Short-course monotherapy is outdated.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious diseases: prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in General Medicine. Viral suppression reduces transmission to under 1 to 2 percent, and the infant receives prophylaxis after birth. Delaying treatment increases risk.

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: prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV?

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.