STI: phthiriasis palpebrarum: 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 · STI: phthiriasis palpebrarum

Sample item

A 6-year-old has itchy eyelid margins with tiny brown crawling insects and nits on the eyelashes. What is the best treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Mechanical removal and petroleum jelly applied to the lashes

Pubic lice can infest eyelashes (phthiriasis palpebrarum), and in a child it should prompt consideration of sexual contact or abuse. Mechanical removal and occlusive petroleum jelly suffocate the lice and avoid permethrin near the eye. Close contacts and bedding need treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Permethrin 5 percent cream applied to the lashes

    Permethrin is not applied to the eyelid margins.

  • B. Oral albendazole

    Albendazole treats helminths.

  • C. Mechanical removal and petroleum jelly applied to the lashes (correct)

    Correct. Mechanical removal with petroleum jelly is the safe approach.

  • D. Topical clotrimazole

    Clotrimazole treats fungal infection.

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, Mechanical removal and petroleum jelly applied to the lashes. Pubic lice can infest eyelashes (phthiriasis palpebrarum), and in a child it should prompt consideration of sexual contact or abuse.

Why is "Permethrin 5 percent cream applied to the lashes" not the answer?

Permethrin is not applied to the eyelid margins.

Why is "Oral albendazole" not the answer?

Albendazole treats helminths.

Why is "Topical clotrimazole" not the answer?

Clotrimazole treats fungal infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests STI: phthiriasis palpebrarum in Dermatology. Mechanical removal and occlusive petroleum jelly suffocate the lice and avoid permethrin near the eye. Close contacts and bedding need treatment.

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 STI: phthiriasis palpebrarum?

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.