STI: HIV skin manifestations: 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 · STI: HIV skin manifestations

Sample item

An HIV positive patient with a CD4 count of 120 has intensely itchy, urticarial follicular papules on the face, neck and upper trunk, with peripheral eosinophilia and raised IgE. Biopsy shows eosinophilic infiltrate around follicles. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Eosinophilic folliculitis

Eosinophilic folliculitis is an intensely itchy sterile follicular eruption in advanced HIV, with sebocyte-directed inflammation and eosinophils. It often improves with ART and phototherapy, and topical steroids, itraconazole or antihistamines can help.

Option by option

  • A. Bacterial folliculitis

    Bacterial folliculitis shows pustules with neutrophils and positive cultures.

  • B. Eosinophilic folliculitis (correct)

    Correct. A sterile, itchy follicular eruption with eosinophilia is typical.

  • C. Kaposi sarcoma

    Kaposi sarcoma has violaceous plaques with spindle cells.

  • D. Pityrosporum folliculitis

    Pityrosporum folliculitis shows yeasts in follicles and neutrophils or mixed infiltrate.

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 B, Eosinophilic folliculitis. Eosinophilic folliculitis is an intensely itchy sterile follicular eruption in advanced HIV, with sebocyte-directed inflammation and eosinophils.

Why is "Bacterial folliculitis" not the answer?

Bacterial folliculitis shows pustules with neutrophils and positive cultures.

Why is "Kaposi sarcoma" not the answer?

Kaposi sarcoma has violaceous plaques with spindle cells.

Why is "Pityrosporum folliculitis" not the answer?

Pityrosporum folliculitis shows yeasts in follicles and neutrophils or mixed infiltrate.

What concept does this question test?

It tests STI: HIV skin manifestations in Dermatology. It often improves with ART and phototherapy, and topical steroids, itraconazole or antihistamines can help.

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 STI: HIV skin manifestations?

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.