Oral medicine and oral cancer: viral infections with facial palsy: practice question

A Dentistry 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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Dentistry · Oral medicine and oral cancer: viral infections with facial palsy

Sample item

A 55-year-old has severe ear pain, a vesicular rash in the external ear canal and on the soft palate, vertigo and a unilateral lower motor neuron facial palsy. Which organism is responsible?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Varicella zoster virus

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is reactivation of varicella zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion, causing vesicles in the ear, sometimes the palate, with facial palsy. Early antiviral and steroid therapy improves recovery.

Option by option

  • A. Coxsackie virus A

    Coxsackie viruses cause herpangina, with posterior oropharyngeal vesicles and no facial palsy.

  • B. Epstein-Barr virus

    EBV causes infectious mononucleosis and hairy leukoplakia.

  • C. Varicella zoster virus (correct)

    Correct. VZV in the geniculate ganglion causes this syndrome.

  • D. Herpes simplex virus 1

    HSV-1 is linked to Bell palsy and gingivostomatitis but not this ear and palate vesicular pattern.

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 Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is C, Varicella zoster virus. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is reactivation of varicella zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion, causing vesicles in the ear, sometimes the palate, with facial palsy.

Why is "Coxsackie virus A" not the answer?

Coxsackie viruses cause herpangina, with posterior oropharyngeal vesicles and no facial palsy.

Why is "Epstein-Barr virus" not the answer?

EBV causes infectious mononucleosis and hairy leukoplakia.

Why is "Herpes simplex virus 1" not the answer?

HSV-1 is linked to Bell palsy and gingivostomatitis but not this ear and palate vesicular pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine and oral cancer: viral infections with facial palsy in Dentistry. Early antiviral and steroid therapy improves recovery.

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 Oral medicine and oral cancer: viral infections with facial palsy?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry 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.