Fungal infections: talaromycosis: 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.

Try it

Dermatology · Fungal infections: talaromycosis

Sample item

An HIV patient from northeast India has fever and umbilicated papules on the face resembling molluscum. Biopsy shows intracellular yeasts that divide by fission with a central septum. What is the organism?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Talaromyces marneffei

Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei is a thermally dimorphic fungus endemic in Southeast Asia and Manipur, linked to bamboo rats. Treatment is amphotericin B followed by itraconazole.

Option by option

  • A. Candida albicans

    Candida forms pseudohyphae.

  • B. Cryptococcus neoformans

    Cryptococcus has a capsule and divides by budding.

  • C. Talaromyces marneffei (correct)

    Correct. Fission yeasts with a central septum identify T. marneffei.

  • D. Histoplasma capsulatum

    Histoplasma is a small budding yeast within macrophages.

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 Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is C, Talaromyces marneffei. Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei is a thermally dimorphic fungus endemic in Southeast Asia and Manipur, linked to bamboo rats.

Why is "Candida albicans" not the answer?

Candida forms pseudohyphae.

Why is "Cryptococcus neoformans" not the answer?

Cryptococcus has a capsule and divides by budding.

Why is "Histoplasma capsulatum" not the answer?

Histoplasma is a small budding yeast within macrophages.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Fungal infections: talaromycosis in Dermatology. Treatment is amphotericin B followed by itraconazole.

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 Fungal infections: talaromycosis?

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.