Iodine can be used for the disinfection of which of the following? 1. Water 2. Faeces 3. Urine 4. Skin Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Consider the following: 1. Standard deviation 2. Range 3. Mode 4. Median Among the above, which is/are the measure/measures of dispersion?
Which of the following diseases has man as an incidental host with ‘Pig → Mosquito → Pig’ as the basic cycle of transmission?
A screening programme for school children was undertaken with the following results: 1. 30% boys and 60% girls were found to be anemic 2. 50% children had history of passing worms in stool 3. 10% children had poor vision 4. 5% children had enlarged tonsils In this context, which of the following is not an appropriate follow up activity?
Sullivan’s index is an indicator of:
Which one of the following mosquitoes is responsible for transmitting Japanese encephalitis?
Which one of the following statements is correct regarding diabetes epidemiology?
UPSC-CMS 2014 - Community Medicine UPSC-CMS Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 21: Iodine can be used for the disinfection of which of the following? 1. Water 2. Faeces 3. Urine 4. Skin Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A. 1, 3 and 4
- B. 1 and 4 only (Correct Answer)
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1 only
Explanation: ***1 and 4 only*** - **Iodine is highly effective for water disinfection**, particularly in emergency and travel situations, killing bacteria, viruses, and protozoa - **Povidone-iodine is a standard antiseptic for skin disinfection** used pre-operatively, for wound care, and before injections due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity - These are the two established and recommended uses of iodine for disinfection in medical and public health practice *1, 3 and 4* - While iodine effectively disinfects water and skin, it is **not used for urine disinfection** - Urine from healthy individuals is typically sterile and does not require routine disinfection - If disinfection of contaminated urine is needed (rare situations), other chemical agents would be preferred *1, 2 and 3* - Iodine is effective for water disinfection but **not suitable for faecal matter disinfection** - Faeces requires stronger disinfection methods: **chlorine-based compounds (sodium hypochlorite/bleach)**, heat treatment, or proper sewage treatment systems - Iodine is impractical and ineffective for the high pathogen load in faecal waste *1 only* - This option incorrectly excludes skin disinfection, which is **one of the most common applications of iodine** in medical practice - Povidone-iodine solutions (Betadine) are standard antiseptics used worldwide for skin preparation before surgical procedures
Question 22: Consider the following: 1. Standard deviation 2. Range 3. Mode 4. Median Among the above, which is/are the measure/measures of dispersion?
- A. 3 and 4 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 1 and 2 only (Correct Answer)
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: ***1 and 2 only*** - The **standard deviation** quantifies the average amount of variability or dispersion around the mean, representing how spread out the data points are. - The **range** is the difference between the maximum and minimum values in a dataset, providing a simple measure of the total spread. *3 and 4 only* - The **mode** represents the most frequently occurring value in a dataset, which is a measure of central tendency, not dispersion. - The **median** is the middle value when data is ordered, also a measure of central tendency. *1 only* - While **standard deviation** is a measure of dispersion, this option incorrectly excludes the **range**, which also quantifies data spread. - Both **standard deviation** and **range** are fundamental measures used to describe the variability within a dataset. *1, 2, 3 and 4* - This option incorrectly includes the **mode** and **median**, which are measures of **central tendency**, not dispersion. - Measures of dispersion specifically describe the **spread or variability** of data, whereas central tendency measures describe the center of the data.
Question 23: Which of the following diseases has man as an incidental host with ‘Pig → Mosquito → Pig’ as the basic cycle of transmission?
- A. Japanese encephalitis (Correct Answer)
- B. Handigodu syndrome
- C. Chikungunya
- D. Kyasanur forest disease
Explanation: ***Japanese encephalitis*** - **Japanese encephalitis** is a viral disease where humans are incidental dead-end hosts. - The established transmission cycle involves **pigs as amplifying hosts** and mosquitoes (primarily *Culex tritaeniorhynchus*) as vectors, which then infect other pigs, maintaining the "Pig → Mosquito → Pig" cycle. - Water birds serve as natural reservoir hosts, while pigs amplify the virus. *Handigodu syndrome* - **Handigodu disease** is another name for **Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)** or a related viral hemorrhagic fever from the same region in Karnataka, India. - It is a tick-borne viral disease, not mosquito-borne, with monkeys and small mammals as reservoir hosts. - There is no "Pig → Mosquito → Pig" transmission cycle involved. *Chikungunya* - **Chikungunya** is a viral disease transmitted primarily by *Aedes aegypti* and *Aedes albopictus* mosquitoes, with humans being the primary reservoir hosts. - The transmission cycle is "Human → Mosquito → Human," not involving pigs as amplifying hosts. *Kyasanur forest disease* - **Kyasanur forest disease (KFD)** is a viral hemorrhagic fever transmitted by *Haemaphysalis* ticks, with monkeys and small mammals serving as reservoir hosts. - The transmission cycle involves ticks and forest animals, not pigs and mosquitoes, and humans are incidental hosts.
Question 24: A screening programme for school children was undertaken with the following results: 1. 30% boys and 60% girls were found to be anemic 2. 50% children had history of passing worms in stool 3. 10% children had poor vision 4. 5% children had enlarged tonsils In this context, which of the following is not an appropriate follow up activity?
- A. Referring those children with enlarged tonsils for surgery (Correct Answer)
- B. Providing iron supplementation to all children
- C. Administering mass deworming medication to all children
- D. Prescribing corrective spectacles to children with poor vision
Explanation: ***Referring those children with enlarged tonsils for surgery*** - Only **5%** of children had enlarged tonsils, and many cases of enlarged tonsils are **asymptomatic** and do not require surgery. - **Tonsillectomy** is a surgical procedure with risks and is typically reserved for recurrent infections or significant airway obstruction, which is not indicated by simple enlargement. *Providing iron supplementation to all children* - A significant proportion of children (30% boys, 60% girls) were found to be **anemic**, making universal iron supplementation a reasonable public health intervention to address widespread nutritional deficiency. - Iron deficiency is common in school-aged children and can impact **cognitive development** and physical performance. *Administering mass deworming medication to all children* - **50%** of children had a history of passing worms in stool, indicating a high prevalence of **intestinal helminthiasis** in the school population. - **Mass deworming** is a cost-effective public health strategy in areas with high prevalence to reduce the burden of worm infections and improve child health outcomes. *Prescribing corrective spectacles to children with poor vision* - **10%** of children had poor vision, a significant percentage that warrants intervention. - Providing **corrective spectacles** is an appropriate and effective follow-up to address refractive errors, which are a common cause of poor vision in children and can impact academic performance.
Question 25: Sullivan’s index is an indicator of:
- A. Morbidity
- B. Disability (Correct Answer)
- C. Mortality
- D. Health care delivery
Explanation: ***Disability*** - Sullivan's index, also known as **disability-free life expectancy**, is a measure that combines **mortality** and **morbidity** data to estimate the expected years an individual will live without disability. - It's a key indicator of the average number of years a person can expect to live in a **healthy or non-disabled state.** *Morbidity* - While related to morbidity, Sullivan's index specifically measures the **absence of disability**, rather than just the presence of disease or illness. - **Morbidity** refers to the state of being diseased or unhealthy, without necessarily quantifying the impact on daily function. *Mortality* - **Mortality** refers to the death rate or the number of deaths in a population. Sullivan's index uses mortality data in its calculation but is not solely an indicator of mortality. - It combines mortality with information on disability to provide a more nuanced picture of **population health.** *Health care delivery* - **Health care delivery** refers to the organization and provision of medical services. Sullivan's index measures health outcomes and does not directly indicate the quality or efficiency of healthcare delivery systems. - While improved healthcare can influence disability-free life expectancy, the index itself is a **health status measure**, not a healthcare system measure.
Question 26: Which one of the following mosquitoes is responsible for transmitting Japanese encephalitis?
- A. Aedes aegypti
- B. Anopheles stephensi
- C. Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Correct Answer)
- D. Mansonia
Explanation: ***Culex tritaeniorhynchus*** - This mosquito species is the **primary vector** for **Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)** transmission in many endemic regions of Asia. - It typically breeds in **rice paddies** and other agricultural water sources, allowing for efficient transmission within populations. *Aedes aegypti* - This mosquito is the main vector for **Dengue**, **Chikungunya**, and **Zika** viruses. - It is not a significant vector for Japanese encephalitis. *Anopheles stephensi* - This mosquito is a major vector for **malaria**, particularly in urban areas of India. - It primarily transmits **Plasmodium parasites** and is not associated with Japanese encephalitis. *Mansonia* - Mosquitoes of the *Mansonia* genus are known vectors for **lymphatic filariasis** and some arboviruses. - They are not considered primary vectors for Japanese encephalitis.
Question 27: Which one of the following statements is correct regarding diabetes epidemiology?
- A. Females are 2.5 times more at risk.
- B. Its prevalence is not affected by age.
- C. Central obesity is not linked with diabetes.
- D. Maternal diabetes increases the risk of subsequent diabetes. (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Maternal diabetes increases the risk of subsequent diabetes.*** - Women who develop **gestational diabetes** have a significantly increased risk of developing **type 2 diabetes** later in life, often within 5-10 years postpartum. - This is due to underlying insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction that becomes evident during pregnancy. *Females are 2.5 times more at risk.* - The prevalence of diabetes typically shows **no significant difference** between genders or is slightly higher in males in some populations. - Gender differences in diabetes risk are generally not that pronounced and vary by type and ethnicity. *Its prevalence is not affected by age.* - The **prevalence of type 2 diabetes significantly increases with age**, particularly after 45 years, due to factors like decreased physical activity, weight gain, and declining pancreatic beta-cell function. - While type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, its incidence also peaks in childhood and adolescence. *Central obesity is not linked with diabetes.* - **Central obesity**, characterized by excess **abdominal fat**, is a strong risk factor for **insulin resistance** and type 2 diabetes. - Visceral fat is metabolically active and releases inflammatory mediators and free fatty acids that impair insulin sensitivity.