Medical disorders in pregnancy: syphilis: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Medical disorders in pregnancy: syphilis

Sample item

Which is the drug of choice for syphilis in pregnancy?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Benzathine penicillin G

Penicillin is the only drug proven to prevent congenital syphilis. A woman who is allergic must be desensitised and treated with penicillin. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction can precipitate preterm labour or fetal distress after the first dose.

Option by option

  • A. Benzathine penicillin G (correct)

    Correct. Penicillin crosses the placenta and treats the fetus.

  • B. Erythromycin

    Erythromycin does not reliably treat fetal infection.

  • C. Ciprofloxacin

    Ciprofloxacin is not used for syphilis.

  • D. Doxycycline

    Doxycycline is contraindicated in pregnancy.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Benzathine penicillin G. Penicillin is the only drug proven to prevent congenital syphilis.

Why is "Erythromycin" not the answer?

Erythromycin does not reliably treat fetal infection.

Why is "Ciprofloxacin" not the answer?

Ciprofloxacin is not used for syphilis.

Why is "Doxycycline" not the answer?

Doxycycline is contraindicated in pregnancy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical disorders in pregnancy: syphilis in OBG. A woman who is allergic must be desensitised and treated with penicillin. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction can precipitate preterm labour or fetal distress after the first dose.

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 Medical disorders in pregnancy: syphilis?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.