Fungal infections: favus: 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 · Fungal infections: favus

Sample item

A boy has yellow cup-shaped crusts around hair follicles, a mousy odour and permanent scarring alopecia. Which organism is responsible?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Trichophyton schoenleinii

Favus (tinea favosa) is the severe form of tinea capitis by T. schoenleinii, with sulphur-yellow scutula and scarring. It is endemic in some rural areas and needs prolonged oral antifungal therapy.

Option by option

  • A. Microsporum canis

    M. canis causes inflammatory but usually nonscarring tinea capitis.

  • B. Malassezia furfur

    Malassezia causes versicolor and seborrhoeic dermatitis.

  • C. Trichophyton schoenleinii (correct)

    Correct. Scutula and scarring alopecia are characteristic of T. schoenleinii.

  • D. Trichophyton mentagrophytes

    T. mentagrophytes causes kerion and tinea corporis.

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, Trichophyton schoenleinii. Favus (tinea favosa) is the severe form of tinea capitis by T.

Why is "Microsporum canis" not the answer?

M. canis causes inflammatory but usually nonscarring tinea capitis.

Why is "Malassezia furfur" not the answer?

Malassezia causes versicolor and seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Why is "Trichophyton mentagrophytes" not the answer?

T. mentagrophytes causes kerion and tinea corporis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Fungal infections: favus in Dermatology. schoenleinii, with sulphur-yellow scutula and scarring. It is endemic in some rural areas and needs prolonged oral antifungal therapy.

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 Fungal infections: favus?

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.