Respiratory medicine: tropical pulmonary eosinophilia: 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 · Respiratory medicine: tropical pulmonary eosinophilia

Sample item

A 30-year-old from a filariasis-endemic region has nocturnal cough and wheeze, eosinophil count above 3000 per microlitre, very high IgE and reticulonodular shadows on chest X-ray. What is the treatment?

APraziquantelBDiethylcarbamazineCAntitubercular therapyDAlbendazole alone

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Diethylcarbamazine

Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia is a hypersensitivity response to microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia malayi trapped in the lungs. Diethylcarbamazine for 2 to 3 weeks gives a dramatic response. Untreated disease can progress to pulmonary fibrosis.

Option by option

A. Praziquantel
Praziquantel treats schistosomiasis and tapeworm infections.
B. Diethylcarbamazine (correct)
Correct. DEC is the treatment of choice.
C. Antitubercular therapy
Antitubercular therapy is wrongly given in such patients but does not treat the filarial cause.
D. Albendazole alone
Albendazole alone is not the standard treatment for this condition.

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 B, Diethylcarbamazine. Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia is a hypersensitivity response to microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia malayi trapped in the lungs.

Why is "Praziquantel" not the answer?

Praziquantel treats schistosomiasis and tapeworm infections.

Why is "Antitubercular therapy" not the answer?

Antitubercular therapy is wrongly given in such patients but does not treat the filarial cause.

Why is "Albendazole alone" not the answer?

Albendazole alone is not the standard treatment for this condition.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory medicine: tropical pulmonary eosinophilia in General Medicine. Diethylcarbamazine for 2 to 3 weeks gives a dramatic response. Untreated disease can progress to pulmonary fibrosis.

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 Respiratory medicine: tropical pulmonary eosinophilia?

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.