Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis

Sample item

A man in Bihar treated for kala-azar three years ago now has hypopigmented macules and nodules on the face. Slit-skin smear shows Leishman-Donovan bodies. Why is this condition important for disease control in India?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. It acts as a reservoir that sustains transmission between epidemics

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis appears months to years after treated visceral leishmaniasis and the skin lesions harbour parasites. Patients are a reservoir for sandfly transmission, so detection and treatment are part of elimination programmes.

Option by option

  • A. It is a drug reaction to sodium stibogluconate

    It is not a drug reaction; it follows treated visceral disease through immune factors.

  • B. It is directly transmitted from person to person by skin contact

    Spread needs the sandfly vector and not skin contact.

  • C. It acts as a reservoir that sustains transmission between epidemics (correct)

    Correct. Parasites in the skin keep infecting sandflies and maintain transmission.

  • D. It indicates reinfection with Leishmania tropica

    It follows Leishmania donovani infection, not reinfection by L. tropica.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is C, It acts as a reservoir that sustains transmission between epidemics. Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis appears months to years after treated visceral leishmaniasis and the skin lesions harbour parasites.

Why is "It is a drug reaction to sodium stibogluconate" not the answer?

It is not a drug reaction; it follows treated visceral disease through immune factors.

Why is "It is directly transmitted from person to person by skin contact" not the answer?

Spread needs the sandfly vector and not skin contact.

Why is "It indicates reinfection with Leishmania tropica" not the answer?

It follows Leishmania donovani infection, not reinfection by L. tropica.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in Dermatology. Patients are a reservoir for sandfly transmission, so detection and treatment are part of elimination programmes.

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 Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.