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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Tuberculosis quiz for medical students: test your clinical basics

Quick, free TB knowledge assessment for students and trainees. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Pablo AtanacioUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting a tuberculosis knowledge assessment quiz.

This tuberculosis quiz helps you check your grasp of TB symptoms, diagnosis, and prevention in 15 quick multiple-choice questions. Use it to practice for class or clinical training, find gaps fast, and learn as you go. For more practice, try the tb airborne quiz, explore an infectious diseases quiz, or build basics with a clinical microbiology quiz.

Which of the following is a classic symptom of active pulmonary tuberculosis?
Joint pain
Persistent cough for more than two weeks
Sudden high fever only at night
Rash on the extremities
A cough lasting longer than two weeks is characteristic of active pulmonary TB as the bacteria infect the lungs and cause prolonged respiratory symptoms. Other options are less specific to TB.
Which of the following is a known risk factor for developing active tuberculosis?
Balanced diet
Regular exercise
HIV infection
Use of surgical masks
HIV infection weakens the immune system and significantly increases the risk of latent TB progressing to active disease. The other options are not risk factors.
How does latent tuberculosis infection differ from active tuberculosis disease?
Symptomatic and non-contagious
Asymptomatic but contagious
Asymptomatic and non-contagious
Symptomatic and highly contagious
Latent TB infection is characterized by the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis without symptoms and without the risk of transmission. Active disease presents with symptoms and can be contagious.
The tuberculin skin test (TST) primarily measures which of the following?
Cell-mediated immune response to TB antigens
Direct presence of bacilli in the skin
Circulating IgG antibodies against TB
Production of TB toxin in the dermis
The TST elicits a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction mediated by T lymphocytes, indicating prior sensitization to TB antigens. It does not measure antibody levels or toxins.
What is the primary purpose of the BCG vaccine in tuberculosis control?
Diagnose latent TB infection
Prevent latent TB infection in adults
Prevent severe pediatric forms of TB
Treat active TB disease
The BCG vaccine is given mainly to protect young children against severe forms of TB such as miliary TB and TB meningitis. It does not treat active disease or diagnose TB.
Which diagnostic test has higher specificity than the tuberculin skin test in BCG-vaccinated individuals?
Repeat tuberculin skin test
Sputum smear microscopy
Chest X-ray
Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA)
IGRAs use specific M. tuberculosis antigens not found in BCG strains, reducing cross-reactivity and increasing specificity compared to TST in vaccinated individuals.
In Ziehl-Neelsen staining for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacilli appear:
Blue against a red background
Black against a yellow background
Bright red against a blue background
Green against a black background
Ziehl-Neelsen staining uses carbol fuchsin to stain acid-fast bacilli bright red, which stand out against a methylene blue counterstain background.
Which first-line anti-TB drug works by inhibiting mycolic acid synthesis in the bacterial cell wall?
Pyrazinamide
Isoniazid
Rifampin
Ethambutol
Isoniazid targets the synthesis of mycolic acids, which are essential components of the mycobacterial cell wall. The other drugs have different mechanisms of action.
Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is defined as resistance to which two drugs?
Rifampin and pyrazinamide
Isoniazid and rifampin
Isoniazid and ethambutol
Ethambutol and streptomycin
MDR-TB refers specifically to strains that are resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two most potent first-line anti-TB drugs.
What is the best initial diagnostic approach for suspected extrapulmonary TB in a lymph node?
Chest X-ray
Tuberculin skin test
Culture and histology of lymph node biopsy
Sputum smear microscopy
Culture and histologic examination of a tissue sample from the affected lymph node provide definitive diagnosis of extrapulmonary TB, whereas sputum tests and imaging are less specific.
Which infection control measure is most effective in preventing nosocomial transmission of TB?
Standard surgical masks for all staff
Cloth face coverings
Routine handwashing only
Use of N95 respirators and negative-pressure rooms
N95 respirators and negative-pressure isolation rooms reduce airborne spread of TB bacilli, whereas surgical or cloth masks and handwashing alone are insufficient for airborne pathogens.
What is the most common site of extrapulmonary tuberculosis?
Lymph nodes
Liver
Kidney
Brain
Lymph node involvement, especially cervical lymphadenitis (scrofula), is the most frequent form of extrapulmonary TB.
Which country has the highest overall burden of tuberculosis cases?
United States
India
Australia
Brazil
India consistently reports the highest number of TB cases globally, carrying a significant portion of the world's TB burden.
What is the recommended duration of treatment for drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis?
3 months
2 months
12 months
6 months
Standard therapy for drug-susceptible TB consists of a 6-month regimen: 2 months of four drugs followed by 4 months of two drugs.
What does the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay measure to detect TB infection?
Interferon-gamma release by T cells
Interleukin-6 release
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha release
Interleukin-2 release
QuantiFERON-TB Gold measures the amount of interferon-gamma released by sensitized T cells in response to M. tuberculosis antigens, indicating infection.
The GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay detects rifampin resistance by targeting mutations in which gene?
rpoB
embB
katG
pncA
GeneXpert MTB/RIF amplifies and detects mutations in the rpoB gene, which encodes the RNA polymerase β-subunit and is the main locus for rifampin resistance.
Pyrazinamide is most active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis under which condition?
Low oxygen tension only
Neutral pH around 7.0
Alkaline pH above 8.0
Acidic pH around 5.5
Pyrazinamide is converted to its active form pyrazinoic acid, which is most effective in acidic environments, such as those found inside macrophage phagosomes.
Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is defined as resistance to isoniazid and rifampin plus:
Streptomycin only
Ethambutol and pyrazinamide
Rifabutin and cycloserine
Any fluoroquinolone and at least one second-line injectable
XDR-TB strains are MDR-TB plus additional resistance to any fluoroquinolone and at least one of the injectable second-line drugs (amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin).
For HIV-positive patients with latent TB infection, WHO recommends preventive therapy with:
Ethambutol for 2 months
Isoniazid for 6 months
Rifampin for 3 months
Pyrazinamide for 9 months
WHO guidelines recommend 6 months of isoniazid preventive therapy for HIV-infected individuals to reduce the risk of progression from latent infection to active TB.
Which WHO region has the highest incidence rate of tuberculosis per 100,000 population?
Eastern Mediterranean Region
European Region
African Region
Region of the Americas
The WHO African Region consistently reports the highest TB incidence rates globally, driven by factors such as HIV co-infection and resource limitations.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify common symptoms and risk factors of tuberculosis
  2. Differentiate between latent and active TB infections
  3. Analyze diagnostic methods for accurate TB detection
  4. Evaluate treatment protocols and resistance challenges
  5. Apply prevention strategies to minimize TB transmission
  6. Demonstrate understanding of global TB epidemiology

Cheat Sheet

  1. Recognize the common symptoms of active tuberculosis (TB) - Imagine a cough that refuses to retire even after three weeks, along with chest aches that make every breath feel dramatic. You might notice unexpected weight loss, low-grade fevers, night sweats that soak your sheets, and fatigue that turns stairs into mountains.
  2. Understand the risk factors for TB infection - TB loves to hide in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, so living or traveling in regions where the disease is common raises your chances of catching it. Spending lots of time with someone diagnosed with active TB or having a weakened immune system (think HIV, diabetes, or certain medications) also sets you up for a visit from this microscopic troublemaker.
  3. Differentiate between latent and active TB infections - Latent TB is like a sleeping giant: you carry the bacteria, but you have no symptoms and you can't spread it to friends. Active TB, on the other hand, is wide awake, complete with cough, fever, and the potential to pass the bug along - so knowing which camp you're in is key to keeping everyone safe.
  4. Learn about TB diagnostic methods - Doctors use the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or blood-based Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs) to reveal hidden TB infections, and chest X-rays to spot active lung involvement. These tests play detective, helping medical experts decide if the TB bacteria are just napping or running wild under your ribs.
  5. Explore treatment options for latent TB infection - You don't need to wait until TB wakes up to start treatment - short regimens like three months of once-weekly isoniazid plus rifapentine (3HP) can zap latent bacteria and boost completion rates. Sticking with your medication schedule is like setting a trap for those sleeping germs before they ever cause trouble.
  6. Understand challenges with drug-resistant TB - Some TB strains have learned to outsmart the usual antibiotics, turning treatment into a tougher puzzle that often requires longer courses and stronger meds. Drug-resistant TB reminds us that germs evolve, and staying vigilant with adherence and follow-up is the secret weapon to outpace these superbugs.
  7. Implement prevention strategies to reduce TB transmission - Fresh air is your friend: proper ventilation and wearing masks in high-risk settings keep airborne TB bacteria at bay. Early detection, prompt treatment, and using simple infection-control measures turn you into a TB-fighting champion in your community.
  8. Recognize the global impact of TB - TB remains a top contender among infectious killers worldwide, affecting millions each year and highlighting healthcare gaps in various regions. Understanding its reach - from urban centers to remote villages - fuels the global effort to fund research and improve access to diagnosis and care.
  9. Be aware of the importance of completing TB treatment - Skipping doses or cutting treatment short hands TB bacteria a chance to regroup, leading to relapse or resistance. Think of your full course of antibiotics as a quest: only by reaching the finish line can you truly claim victory over the bugs.
  10. Understand the role of the BCG vaccine - The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is often given in countries where TB is common to shield children against severe forms like TB meningitis. While it doesn't guarantee full immunity, it's a powerful tool in pediatric TB prevention and global health strategies.
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