Communicable diseases: herpes zoster contacts: 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: herpes zoster contacts

Sample item

An elderly man has a painful vesicular eruption confined to a single thoracic dermatome. A child who has never had chickenpox or varicella vaccination touches the vesicles. Which illness may the child develop?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Chickenpox

Herpes zoster is reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus. Vesicle fluid contains the virus, so a susceptible contact develops primary infection, which is chickenpox, not zoster. Zoster itself arises only from the person's own latent virus.

Option by option

  • A. Herpes zoster

    A susceptible child gets primary varicella, because zoster follows only reactivation of the person's own latent virus.

  • B. Herpes simplex type 2 infection

    Herpes simplex type 2 is a different virus and is not transmitted this way.

  • C. Hand, foot and mouth disease

    Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by enteroviruses such as coxsackie A16.

  • D. Chickenpox (correct)

    Correct. Exposure of a susceptible child to zoster vesicles causes chickenpox.

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, Chickenpox. Herpes zoster is reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus.

Why is "Herpes zoster" not the answer?

A susceptible child gets primary varicella, because zoster follows only reactivation of the person's own latent virus.

Why is "Herpes simplex type 2 infection" not the answer?

Herpes simplex type 2 is a different virus and is not transmitted this way.

Why is "Hand, foot and mouth disease" not the answer?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by enteroviruses such as coxsackie A16.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: herpes zoster contacts in PSM. Vesicle fluid contains the virus, so a susceptible contact develops primary infection, which is chickenpox, not zoster. Zoster itself arises only from the person's own latent virus.

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: herpes zoster contacts?

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.