Leprosy: release from treatment: 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 · Leprosy: release from treatment

Sample item

A multibacillary leprosy patient completes the prescribed course of multidrug therapy. Skin patches are still faintly visible and the smear remains positive but with a fallen bacteriological index. What is the correct action?

AAdd ofloxacin for a further yearBRepeat the full course immediatelyCExtend multidrug therapy until the smear is negativeDDeclare release from treatment and follow up for reactions and nerve function

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Declare release from treatment and follow up for reactions and nerve function

Treatment is fixed in duration, and residual patches or a positive smear are not reasons to extend it, as dead bacilli are cleared slowly. The patient is released from treatment and monitored for reactions, neuritis and relapse.

Option by option

A. Add ofloxacin for a further year
Adding ofloxacin is not indicated for slow clearance of dead bacilli.
B. Repeat the full course immediately
Repeating the full course immediately is unnecessary and exposes the patient to drug toxicity.
C. Extend multidrug therapy until the smear is negative
Extending MDT until smears are negative is not required because dead bacilli persist for long.
D. Declare release from treatment and follow up for reactions and nerve function (correct)
Correct. After the fixed course, the patient is released from treatment and followed up.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Declare release from treatment and follow up for reactions and nerve function. Treatment is fixed in duration, and residual patches or a positive smear are not reasons to extend it, as dead bacilli are cleared slowly.

Why is "Add ofloxacin for a further year" not the answer?

Adding ofloxacin is not indicated for slow clearance of dead bacilli.

Why is "Repeat the full course immediately" not the answer?

Repeating the full course immediately is unnecessary and exposes the patient to drug toxicity.

Why is "Extend multidrug therapy until the smear is negative" not the answer?

Extending MDT until smears are negative is not required because dead bacilli persist for long.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Leprosy: release from treatment in Dermatology. The patient is released from treatment and monitored for reactions, neuritis and relapse.

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 Leprosy: release from treatment?

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.