Communicable diseases: measles and vitamin A: 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: measles and vitamin A

Sample item

A 2-year-old child is admitted with measles complicated by diarrhoea. He has not received vitamin A for the past 8 months. Which vitamin A schedule is recommended by WHO for therapeutic use in this child?

AA single dose of 100,000 IU onlyB200,000 IU orally once a week for 4 weeksC50,000 IU orally on two consecutive daysD200,000 IU orally on two consecutive days

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. 200,000 IU orally on two consecutive days

Vitamin A given to children with measles reduces the risk of blindness, pneumonia and death. For children aged 12 months or more the dose is 200,000 IU on two successive days (100,000 IU for ages 6 to 11 months and 50,000 IU below 6 months). A third dose is given 2 to 4 weeks later if there are eye signs of deficiency.

Option by option

A. A single dose of 100,000 IU only
A single 100,000 IU dose is the age 6 to 11 months dose and is also incomplete since two days of dosing are needed.
B. 200,000 IU orally once a week for 4 weeks
Weekly dosing for a month is not a recognised measles schedule; the treatment is given on two consecutive days.
C. 50,000 IU orally on two consecutive days
50,000 IU is the dose for infants below 6 months, which would be too low for a 2-year-old.
D. 200,000 IU orally on two consecutive days (correct)
Correct. Two daily doses of 200,000 IU are the therapeutic schedule for a child aged 12 months or more.

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 PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, 200,000 IU orally on two consecutive days. Vitamin A given to children with measles reduces the risk of blindness, pneumonia and death.

Why is "A single dose of 100,000 IU only" not the answer?

A single 100,000 IU dose is the age 6 to 11 months dose and is also incomplete since two days of dosing are needed.

Why is "200,000 IU orally once a week for 4 weeks" not the answer?

Weekly dosing for a month is not a recognised measles schedule; the treatment is given on two consecutive days.

Why is "50,000 IU orally on two consecutive days" not the answer?

50,000 IU is the dose for infants below 6 months, which would be too low for a 2-year-old.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: measles and vitamin A in PSM. For children aged 12 months or more the dose is 200,000 IU on two successive days (100,000 IU for ages 6 to 11 months and 50,000 IU below 6 months). A third dose is given 2 to 4 weeks later if there are eye signs of deficiency.

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 Communicable diseases: measles and vitamin A?

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.