Ear and audiology: congenital syphilis and deafness: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Ear and audiology: congenital syphilis and deafness

Sample item

A 12-year-old has progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, notched peg-shaped upper incisors and corneal haze from keratitis. Which diagnosis explains all three findings?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Congenital syphilis

Hutchinson triad of congenital syphilis consists of interstitial keratitis, notched incisors and eighth nerve deafness. Treatment is with penicillin. Usher syndrome gives deafness with retinitis pigmentosa, and Alport syndrome causes nephritis with deafness.

Option by option

  • A. Alport syndrome

    Alport syndrome gives haematuria, renal failure and lenticonus with deafness.

  • B. Congenital syphilis (correct)

    Correct. Keratitis, Hutchinson teeth and eighth nerve deafness make up the classic triad.

  • C. Usher syndrome

    Usher syndrome has retinitis pigmentosa, not keratitis and dental defects.

  • D. Waardenburg syndrome

    Waardenburg syndrome has white forelock, heterochromia and dystopia canthorum.

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.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, Congenital syphilis. Hutchinson triad of congenital syphilis consists of interstitial keratitis, notched incisors and eighth nerve deafness.

Why is "Alport syndrome" not the answer?

Alport syndrome gives haematuria, renal failure and lenticonus with deafness.

Why is "Usher syndrome" not the answer?

Usher syndrome has retinitis pigmentosa, not keratitis and dental defects.

Why is "Waardenburg syndrome" not the answer?

Waardenburg syndrome has white forelock, heterochromia and dystopia canthorum.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: congenital syphilis and deafness in ENT. Treatment is with penicillin. Usher syndrome gives deafness with retinitis pigmentosa, and Alport syndrome causes nephritis with deafness.

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 Ear and audiology: congenital syphilis and deafness?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.