Dermatitis and Eczema — MCQs
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Which condition is characterized by perioral pallor and Dennie-Morgan folds?
Which condition is commonly known as cradle cap in infants?
Which type of dermatitis is evaluated through patch testing?
A patient who experiences recurrent urticaria during exercise and heat exposure, including sunlight, most likely has:
Rakesh, a 7-year-old boy, presents with a 3-year history of itchy, excoriated papules on his forehead and exposed parts of his arms and legs. The condition is most severe during the rainy season and improves completely in winter. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Pompholyx affects:
Dermatitis and Eczema Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 101: Which condition is characterized by perioral pallor and Dennie-Morgan folds?
- A. Atopic dermatitis (Correct Answer)
- B. Chronic actinic dermatitis
- C. Blood dyscrasia
- D. Perioral contact dermatitis
Explanation: ***Atopic dermatitis*** - **Perioral pallor** (paleness around the mouth) and **Dennie-Morgan folds** (infraorbital folds) are classic cutaneous manifestations observed in atopic dermatitis. - These features, along with xerosis, lichenification, and eczema, form part of the diagnostic criteria for this chronic inflammatory skin condition. *Chronic actinic dermatitis* - This condition is characterized by an **eczematous eruption** in **sun-exposed areas**, such as the face, neck, and dorsal hands. - It does not typically present with perioral pallor or Dennie-Morgan folds, which are specific to atopic predispositions. *Blood dyscrasia* - Blood dyscrasias are disorders affecting the blood components and can manifest with various skin findings, like **purpura**, **pallor due to anemia**, or **ulcers**. - However, they do not specifically cause perioral pallor in the characteristic pattern seen with atopic dermatitis or Dennie-Morgan folds. *Perioral contact dermatitis* - This condition is an **inflammatory skin response** to a **topical irritant or allergen** applied around the mouth. - It usually presents with erythema, scaling, and sometimes vesicles in the area of contact, rather than generalized perioral pallor or Dennie-Morgan folds.
Question 102: Which condition is commonly known as cradle cap in infants?
- A. Pemphigus vulgaris
- B. Acute sunburn reaction
- C. Psoriasis vulgaris
- D. Seborrheic dermatitis (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Seborrheic dermatitis*** - **Cradle cap** is the common term for **infantile seborrheic dermatitis**, characterized by greasy, scaly patches on the scalp. - It is a common, harmless skin condition in infants, often resolving on its own. *Pemphigus vulgaris* - This is a rare, severe **autoimmune blistering disease** affecting the skin and mucous membranes, not a common infant scalp condition. - It involves the formation of **flaccid bullae** and erosions due to autoantibodies against desmosomal proteins. *Acute sunburn reaction* - An **acute sunburn reaction** is caused by excessive exposure to **ultraviolet (UV) radiation**, leading to skin redness, pain, and blistering. - It is an environmental injury and does not present as chronic scaling on an infant's scalp. *Psoriasis vulgaris* - **Psoriasis vulgaris** is a chronic autoimmune condition causing well-demarcated, erythematous plaques with silvery scales. - While it can occur in children, its typical presentation is different from cradle cap, and it is less common in infants.
Question 103: Which type of dermatitis is evaluated through patch testing?
- A. Atopic dermatitis
- B. Irritant contact dermatitis
- C. Discoid eczema
- D. Contact dermatitis due to allergens (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Contact dermatitis due to allergens*** - **Patch testing** is specifically used to identify specific **allergens** that trigger an **allergic contact dermatitis** reaction. - It involves applying suspected allergens to the skin and observing for a localized inflammatory response, indicating delayed type IV hypersensitivity. *Atopic dermatitis* - This is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by **eczematous lesions** and severe **pruritus**, often linked to a genetic predisposition and immune dysfunction. - While allergy testing (e.g., prick tests, blood tests for IgE) might be used to identify triggers, **patch testing** is not the primary diagnostic tool for atopic dermatitis itself. *Irritant contact dermatitis* - This type of dermatitis is caused by direct **damage to the skin barrier** from exposure to caustic substances or irritants, not an immune-mediated allergic reaction. - Diagnosis is usually based on clinical history of exposure and symptom presentation, and **patch testing** is typically negative in these cases. *Discoid eczema* - Also known as **nummular dermatitis**, this condition presents with distinctive **coin-shaped lesions** and is often associated with dry skin or skin trauma. - Its etiology is generally unknown and not attributable to specific allergens detectable by **patch testing**.
Question 104: A patient who experiences recurrent urticaria during exercise and heat exposure, including sunlight, most likely has:
- A. Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
- B. Universal Dermographism
- C. Cholinergic Urticaria (Correct Answer)
- D. Photodermatitis
Explanation: ***Cholinergic Urticaria*** - Cholinergic urticaria is characterized by the appearance of small, itchy wheals in response to stimuli that raise the **body temperature**, such as **exercise**, **heat**, or **emotional stress**. - The symptoms resolve when the body cools down, aligning with the patient's presentation of recurrent urticaria during exercise and heat exposure. *Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria* - This condition involves daily or almost daily urticaria for **six weeks or more** without an identifiable external cause. - While it is chronic, the specific triggers of exercise and heat exposure point more directly to a physical urticaria like cholinergic urticaria. *Universal Dermographism* - **Dermographism** (or dermatographia) is a type of physical urticaria where hives appear after **firm stroking or scratching** of the skin. - Universal dermographism would imply this reaction over a large body surface area, but it is not typically triggered by systemic heat or exercise. *Photodermatitis* - **Photodermatitis** is a general term for skin inflammation caused by **exposure to light**, especially sunlight, often due to an abnormal reaction to UV radiation. - While sunlight is a trigger for this patient's symptoms, the additional triggers of exercise and general heat exposure make cholinergic urticaria a more encompassing diagnosis than photodermatitis alone.
Question 105: Rakesh, a 7-year-old boy, presents with a 3-year history of itchy, excoriated papules on his forehead and exposed parts of his arms and legs. The condition is most severe during the rainy season and improves completely in winter. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Insect bite hypersensitivity
- B. Scabies
- C. Atopic dermatitis (Correct Answer)
- D. Urticaria
Explanation: ***Atopic dermatitis*** - The **chronic itchy dermatitis** starting at age 4 and the presence of **excoriated papules** are consistent with atopic dermatitis, which is one of the most common chronic dermatoses in children. - While atopic dermatitis in school-age children typically affects **flexural areas** (antecubital and popliteal fossae), it can also involve the face and extensor surfaces, particularly as a continuation from earlier infantile patterns. - The **seasonal variation** can occur in atopic dermatitis due to changes in humidity, allergen exposure, and temperature, though the pattern of worsening in rainy season is somewhat atypical. - Given the chronic course and age of onset in early childhood with persistent itchy papules, atopic dermatitis remains the most likely diagnosis among the given options. *Insect bite hypersensitivity* - This would typically present with localized **urticarial papules** or **vesicles** at discrete bite sites, not a diffuse chronic condition lasting 3 years. - While insect bites can be seasonal and cause itchy excoriated papules, the **continuous 3-year duration** with consistent distribution patterns is not typical for bite reactions. *Scabies* - Scabies presents with intense itching (worse at night) and **pathognomonic burrows** in characteristic sites: finger webs, wrists, axillae, belt line, and genitalia. - The **distribution** described (forehead and exposed extremities) is not typical for scabies, nor would it show complete improvement seasonally without treatment. - Untreated scabies would not spontaneously resolve completely in winter. *Urticaria* - Urticaria manifests as **transient, migratory wheals** (hives) that typically resolve within 24 hours, even in chronic cases. - The description of persistent **excoriated papules** over 3 years is incompatible with urticaria, which is characterized by evanescent lesions, not fixed papules.
Question 106: Pompholyx affects:
- A. Groin
- B. Scalp
- C. Trunk
- D. Palms and soles (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Palms and soles*** - **Pompholyx**, also known as **dyshidrotic eczema**, is characterized by recurrent outbreaks of **vesicles and bullae** predominantly on the palms and soles. - These lesions are typically very **itchy** and can cause significant discomfort. *Groin* - Conditions like **tinea cruris** (jock itch) or **intertrigo** commonly affect the groin, presenting with erythema and scaling rather than vesicles. - While eczema can occur in the groin, classical pompholyx has a predilection for the acral regions. *Scalp* - The scalp is more commonly affected by conditions such as **seborrheic dermatitis** or **psoriasis**, which manifest as scaling, redness, and flaking. - Vesicular eruptions are rare on the scalp unless due to specific conditions like herpes zoster. *Trunk* - The trunk is a common site for various dermatoses, including **atopic dermatitis**, **psoriasis**, or **pityriasis rosea**, but these typically present with different morphologic features (e.g., plaques, patches). - Pompholyx is specific to palms and soles and does not usually involve the trunk.
Practice by Chapter
Atopic Dermatitis
Practice Questions
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Practice Questions
Contact Dermatitis: Irritant
Practice Questions
Contact Dermatitis: Allergic
Practice Questions
Nummular Eczema
Practice Questions
Dyshidrotic Eczema
Practice Questions
Stasis Dermatitis
Practice Questions
Asteatotic Eczema
Practice Questions
Lichen Simplex Chronicus
Practice Questions
Autoeczematization (Id Reaction)
Practice Questions
Photosensitive Eczemas
Practice Questions
Treatment Strategies for Eczematous Disorders
Practice Questions
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