Paper II — 2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) — Q14

Paper II

2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)

Question

Chloramphenicol/Ceftriaxone in typhoid fever

Q140.3 marksShort Answers★✓

Answer

Chosen drug: Ceftriaxone

Justification: Ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin, is now the preferred first-line agent for typhoid fever due to increasing resistance of Salmonella typhi to chloramphenicol and other older first-line agents, along with a favourable safety profile (once-daily dosing, good tissue penetration). Chloramphenicol, while historically the drug of choice, carries the risk of serious adverse effects (aplastic anaemia, grey baby syndrome) and increasing resistance, making ceftriaxone the more appropriate modern choice.

Related Concepts

1. 1Tetracyclines and Chloramphenicol

Other Years Asked

1. 1Doxycycline2022 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
2. 2Typhoid fever2017 February (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
3. 3Typhoid fever2016 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
4. 4Tetracyclines2023 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
5. 5Ceftriaxone in a pregnant lady diagnosed to have Enteric fever2024 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 0.3 marks