Question:

A patient presents with the feature shown in the image. The patient has another 3-year-old sibling at home who is fully immunized as per the immunization schedule. What is the best measure to prevent diphtheria in the sibling of this diphtheria case?

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The contact is fully immunized and got a booster within the last 2 years: think about whether anything extra is needed.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Give diphtheria toxoid booster
  • Give a full course of DPT vaccine
  • Give prophylactic erythromycin
  • Nothing is required to be done
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The image shows the grey pseudomembrane of diphtheria. The question is about protecting a contact: a fully immunized 3-year-old sibling.
Step 2: Under the national schedule, DPT boosters are given at 16 to 24 months and again at 5 years. A fully immunized 3-year-old has therefore had the 16 to 24 month booster within the last 1 to 2 years and carries protective antitoxin levels.
Step 3: Because the sibling is recently and adequately immunized, no extra dose or chemoprophylaxis is needed for exam purposes, so the answer is nothing is required to be done. A booster (option A) or full DPT course (option B) is not indicated when immunization is already up to date, and prophylactic antibiotics are reserved for unimmunized or under-immunized close contacts. Ref: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 25e, p.174.
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