Communicable diseases: leptospirosis: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Communicable diseases: leptospirosis

Sample item

A farmer who waded through floodwater presents with fever, calf pain, conjunctival suffusion, jaundice and rising creatinine. Which treatment and reservoir fit this illness?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Penicillin or doxycycline; rodents as main reservoir

Fever with myalgia, conjunctival suffusion, jaundice and renal failure after exposure to floodwater is leptospirosis (Weil disease). It is treated with penicillin or doxycycline, and rodents shed the spirochaete in urine. Doxycycline weekly can be used as chemoprophylaxis in high-risk exposure.

Option by option

  • A. Acyclovir; monkeys as reservoir

    Acyclovir and monkeys do not fit this bacterial zoonosis.

  • B. Chloroquine; mosquitoes as vector

    Chloroquine and mosquito transmission describe malaria.

  • C. Ceftriaxone for enteric fever; human carriers

    Human carriers describe typhoid, which does not give this exposure pattern or conjunctival suffusion.

  • D. Penicillin or doxycycline; rodents as main reservoir (correct)

    Correct. Penicillin or doxycycline treats it and rodents are the main reservoir.

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.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Penicillin or doxycycline; rodents as main reservoir. Fever with myalgia, conjunctival suffusion, jaundice and renal failure after exposure to floodwater is leptospirosis (Weil disease).

Why is "Acyclovir; monkeys as reservoir" not the answer?

Acyclovir and monkeys do not fit this bacterial zoonosis.

Why is "Chloroquine; mosquitoes as vector" not the answer?

Chloroquine and mosquito transmission describe malaria.

Why is "Ceftriaxone for enteric fever; human carriers" not the answer?

Human carriers describe typhoid, which does not give this exposure pattern or conjunctival suffusion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: leptospirosis in PSM. It is treated with penicillin or doxycycline, and rodents shed the spirochaete in urine. Doxycycline weekly can be used as chemoprophylaxis in high-risk exposure.

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 Communicable diseases: leptospirosis?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.