Urticaria: 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 · Urticaria

Sample item

A 30-year-old woman has recurrent itchy raised red wheals that appear at different body sites. Which feature best supports ordinary urticaria rather than urticarial vasculitis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Each wheal fades within 24 hours and leaves normal skin

In ordinary urticaria, mast cell degranulation causes transient dermal oedema, so each wheal resolves within about a day without residual marks. Urticarial vasculitis lesions last longer, tend to burn, and leave purpura or hyperpigmentation.

Option by option

  • A. Each wheal fades within 24 hours and leaves normal skin (correct)

    Correct. Transient wheals that clear completely are typical of ordinary urticaria.

  • B. A biopsy shows leukocytoclastic vasculitis

    Leukocytoclastic vasculitis on biopsy is the defining feature of urticarial vasculitis.

  • C. Individual lesions persist for several days and leave bruising or pigmentation

    Persistence for days with bruising points to vasculitis, not ordinary urticaria.

  • D. The lesions burn or are painful rather than itchy

    Pain or burning rather than itch is characteristic of urticarial vasculitis.

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 A, Each wheal fades within 24 hours and leaves normal skin. In ordinary urticaria, mast cell degranulation causes transient dermal oedema, so each wheal resolves within about a day without residual marks.

Why is "A biopsy shows leukocytoclastic vasculitis" not the answer?

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis on biopsy is the defining feature of urticarial vasculitis.

Why is "Individual lesions persist for several days and leave bruising or pig…" not the answer?

Persistence for days with bruising points to vasculitis, not ordinary urticaria.

Why is "The lesions burn or are painful rather than itchy" not the answer?

Pain or burning rather than itch is characteristic of urticarial vasculitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Urticaria in Dermatology. Urticarial vasculitis lesions last longer, tend to burn, and leave purpura or hyperpigmentation.

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 Urticaria?

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.