Nose and paranasal sinuses: lepromatous leprosy of the nose: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Nose and paranasal sinuses: lepromatous leprosy of the nose

Sample item

A man with long-standing lepromatous leprosy has persistent nasal crusting and blockage. A smear from the nasal mucosa is requested. What is the reason?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. The nasal mucosa carries a heavy load of acid-fast bacilli

Lepromatous leprosy infiltrates the nasal mucosa early with large numbers of bacilli. Nasal discharge is an important source of transmission and nasal smears show acid-fast organisms. Late disease causes septal perforation and saddle deformity.

Option by option

  • A. To detect Candida

    Candida is not the cause of leprosy rhinitis.

  • B. The nasal mucosa carries a heavy load of acid-fast bacilli (correct)

    Correct. Nasal mucosa in lepromatous disease teems with acid-fast bacilli and is a transmission source.

  • C. To culture the organism on routine media

    Mycobacterium leprae cannot be grown on routine culture media.

  • D. To type the strain for vaccination

    No vaccine strain typing is performed for leprosy.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, The nasal mucosa carries a heavy load of acid-fast bacilli. Lepromatous leprosy infiltrates the nasal mucosa early with large numbers of bacilli.

Why is "To detect Candida" not the answer?

Candida is not the cause of leprosy rhinitis.

Why is "To culture the organism on routine media" not the answer?

Mycobacterium leprae cannot be grown on routine culture media.

Why is "To type the strain for vaccination" not the answer?

No vaccine strain typing is performed for leprosy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose and paranasal sinuses: lepromatous leprosy of the nose in ENT. Nasal discharge is an important source of transmission and nasal smears show acid-fast organisms. Late disease causes septal perforation and saddle deformity.

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 Nose and paranasal sinuses: lepromatous leprosy of the nose?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.