Infectious diseases: Campylobacter and Guillain-Barre syndrome: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Infectious diseases: Campylobacter and Guillain-Barre syndrome

Sample item

A 30-year-old man has bloody diarrhoea and fever after eating undercooked poultry. Two weeks later he develops symmetrical ascending weakness with absent reflexes. Which organism is most commonly the preceding trigger of this neurological illness?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is the commonest infection preceding Guillain-Barre syndrome, through molecular mimicry between bacterial lipo-oligosaccharide and gangliosides on peripheral nerves.

Option by option

  • A. Vibrio cholerae

    Cholera causes watery diarrhoea and is not linked to the syndrome.

  • B. Shigella sonnei

    Shigella causes dysentery and haemolytic uraemic syndrome rather than this neuropathy.

  • C. Entamoeba histolytica

    Amoebic dysentery is not a recognised trigger.

  • D. Campylobacter jejuni (correct)

    Correct. This organism is the best-recognised antecedent of the syndrome.

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 General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Campylobacter jejuni. Campylobacter jejuni is the commonest infection preceding Guillain-Barre syndrome, through molecular mimicry between bacterial lipo-oligosaccharide and gangliosides on peripheral nerves.

Why is "Vibrio cholerae" not the answer?

Cholera causes watery diarrhoea and is not linked to the syndrome.

Why is "Shigella sonnei" not the answer?

Shigella causes dysentery and haemolytic uraemic syndrome rather than this neuropathy.

Why is "Entamoeba histolytica" not the answer?

Amoebic dysentery is not a recognised trigger.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious diseases: Campylobacter and Guillain-Barre syndrome in General Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct. This organism is the best-recognised antecedent of the syndrome.

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 Infectious diseases: Campylobacter and Guillain-Barre syndrome?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.