Match the following:

a. Auspitz sign 1. Psoriasis

b. Darier's sign 2. Discoid lupus erythematosus

c. Carpet tack 3. Cutaneous sign mastocytosis

d. Flag sign 4. Kwashiorkor

1. A

   a-3, b-2, c-1, d-4

2. B

   a-4, b-3, c-1, d-2

3. C

   a-1, b-3, c-2, d-4

4. D

   a-1, b-2, c-3, d-4

Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2025

Explanation

• Auspitz sign is a classic finding in psoriasis, where removing the silvery scales reveals pinpoint bleeding points.
• Darier's sign is pathognomonic for cutaneous mastocytosis, where physical stimulation of a lesion causes a wheal-and-flare reaction due to histamine release.
• Carpet tack sign is characteristic of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), where adherent scales show follicular plugs on their undersurface when removed.
• Flag sign in hair indicates severe protein-energy malnutrition, specifically Kwashiorkor, representing alternating periods of poor and adequate nutrition.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This option incorrectly pairs Auspitz sign with Cutaneous mastocytosis (a-3), Darier's sign with DLE (b-2), and Carpet tack sign with Psoriasis (c-1). These pairings are clinically inaccurate.
• Option B: This option incorrectly pairs Auspitz sign with Kwashiorkor (a-4), Carpet tack sign with Psoriasis (c-1), and Flag sign with DLE (d-2). These signs are not associated with these conditions.
• Option D: This option incorrectly pairs Darier's sign with DLE (b-2) and Carpet tack sign with Cutaneous mastocytosis (c-3). Darier's sign is for mastocytosis, and Carpet tack sign is for DLE.

Related Visual

• Visual 1: Image - Auspitz sign. A close-up image showing pinpoint bleeding on the skin after a psoriatic scale has been removed.
• Visual 2: Image - Darier's sign. A before-and-after image showing a skin lesion before and after being stroked, demonstrating the resulting wheal and flare.
• Visual 3: Image - Carpet tack sign. An image of a scale removed from a DLE lesion, showing the characteristic horny plugs on its underside.
• Visual 4: Image - Flag sign. A photograph of a child's hair showing alternating bands of light and dark color, indicative of Kwashiorkor.

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Matching of specific clinical signs with their associated dermatological and nutritional disorders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• Recognizing these specific clinical signs during a physical examination is a crucial skill for nurses and clinicians, as they can be pathognomonic or highly suggestive of certain underlying diseases.
• Prompt identification allows for earlier diagnosis, appropriate referral to specialists (like dermatologists or nutritionists), and timely initiation of treatment, improving patient outcomes.
• What if? If a patient presents with pinpoint bleeding after scratching a rash, but the rash is not scaly or plaque-like, the nurse should consider other causes of capillary fragility, such as vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) or thrombocytopenia, rather than immediately assuming psoriasis.

How to Approach the Question

• First, read both columns of the matching question carefully to understand all the terms.
• Try to match the clinical signs you are most confident about first. For example, you might recall that Auspitz sign is strongly linked to Psoriasis.
• Based on your initial matches (e.g., a-1 and d-4), look at the options provided.
• Eliminate the options that do not contain your confident matches. In this case, options A and B can be eliminated if you know a-1 and d-4 are correct.
• Between the remaining options (C and D), determine the correct pairing for the other signs (Darier's and Carpet tack) to select the final answer.
• This method of matching known pairs and using elimination is highly effective for 'Match the following' questions.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Matching of specific clinical signs with their associated dermatological and nutritional disorders.
• Stem keywords: Auspitz sign, Darier's sign, Carpet tack sign, Flag sign, Psoriasis, Discoid lupus erythematosus, Cutaneous mastocytosis, Kwashiorkor
• Lead-in keywords: Match the following
• Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Qal77iU9xXs2Gf5jeFnjlE

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