UPSC-CMS 2016 — Community Medicine
33 Previous Year Questions with Answers & Explanations
In India, the commonest cause of unilateral lymphoedema of lower limb is:
The most common site for nosocomial (hospital acquired) infection is:
The two important values necessary for describing the variation in a series of observations are:
The time period from entry of an infective agent into a host until the host develops the capacity for maximal infectivity is called:
Consider the following statements: Symposium is a method of health education characterised by 1. a series of speeches on a selected topic 2. presentation of different aspects of a topic by 3 or 4 experts. 3. a discussion among the symposium members 4. the chairperson making a comprehensive summary at the end of the session Which of these statements are correct?
Consider the following diseases: 1. Rift valley fever 2. Yellow Fever 3. Chikungunya fever 4. West Nile fever Which of the above diseases are transmitted by Aedes mosquito?
Consider the following statements: Prophylactic disinfection includes 1. disinfection of urine specimen of patient with enteric fever 2. pasteurization of milk 3. disinfection of contaminated linen 4. disinfection of water by chlorine Which of these statements are correct?
Consider the following statements: 1. Registration of birth, even if the child is born in a hospital, is essentially the responsibility of parents only. 2. At present, the registration of birth has to be done not more than 15 days after the birth. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Sullivan Index is the measure of which of the following?
Consider the following statements: The strategy to eradicate poliomyelitis in India comprised of: 1. Conducting National Immunization Days 2. Mopping up rounds with OPV 3. Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance 4. Public awareness through multimedia Which of these statements are correct?
UPSC-CMS 2016 - Community Medicine UPSC-CMS Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 1: In India, the commonest cause of unilateral lymphoedema of lower limb is:
- A. Tubercular lymphadenopathy
- B. Filariasis (Correct Answer)
- C. Carcinoma of penis
- D. Lymphoedema tarda
Explanation: ***Filariasis (Correct Answer)*** - **Filariasis**, particularly caused by *Wuchereria bancrofti*, is endemic in many parts of India and is the leading cause of **secondary lymphedema** worldwide. - The parasitic worms block the lymphatic vessels, leading to chronic swelling, thickening of the skin, and can cause grotesque enlargement of limbs, often unilaterally. - In India, filariasis accounts for the vast majority of acquired unilateral lower limb lymphedema cases. *Tubercular lymphadenopathy (Incorrect)* - While **tubercular lymphadenopathy** is common in India, it primarily causes swelling of lymph nodes, often in the neck or axilla. - It typically does not lead to diffuse, unilateral lymphedema of the entire lower limb. *Carcinoma of penis (Incorrect)* - **Carcinoma of the penis** can cause inguinal lymph node metastasis, which might lead to lymphedema if the nodes are extensively involved or surgically removed. - However, it is not the most common cause of unilateral lower limb lymphedema in the general population of India. *Lymphoedema tarda (Incorrect)* - **Lymphedema tarda** is a form of primary lymphedema that typically presents after the age of 35, often without an identifiable cause. - While it can occur in India, it is a congenital or developmental disorder of the lymphatic system and is far less common than filariasis as a cause of acquired lymphedema.
Question 2: The most common site for nosocomial (hospital acquired) infection is:
- A. Surgical site
- B. Blood stream
- C. Respiratory tract
- D. Urinary tract (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Urinary tract*** - **Urinary tract infections (UTIs)** are the most frequently acquired nosocomial infections, often associated with **urinary catheterization**. - Catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs) account for a significant percentage of all healthcare-associated infections. *Surgical site* - **Surgical site infections (SSIs)** are a common type of nosocomial infection, but they are less frequent than UTIs overall. - SSIs are highly dependent on the type of surgery, duration, and patient risk factors. *Blood stream* - **Bloodstream infections (BSIs)**, including central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), are serious nosocomial infections. - While they carry high morbidity and mortality, their overall incidence is lower than that of UTIs. *Respiratory tract* - **Respiratory tract infections**, particularly **ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)**, are significant nosocomial concerns. - However, they are not as common as UTIs when considering all types of healthcare settings and patient populations.
Question 3: The two important values necessary for describing the variation in a series of observations are:
- A. Median and standard deviation
- B. Mean and range
- C. Mean and standard deviation (Correct Answer)
- D. Median and range
Explanation: ***Mean and standard deviation*** - The **mean** provides a measure of the **central tendency**, representing the average value in the dataset. - The **standard deviation** quantifies the **dispersion** or spread of the data points around the mean, indicating the variability. *Median and standard deviation* - The **median** is a measure of **central tendency**, specifically the middle value, but it doesn't directly pair with standard deviation for describing overall variation in the most common statistical contexts. - While standard deviation describes spread, using the median for central tendency often leads to other measures of spread like **interquartile range (IQR)** for a more consistent representation of non-normally distributed data. *Mean and range* - The **mean** indicates the central point of the data, but the **range** (difference between maximum and minimum values) is a less robust measure of variation. - **Range** is highly susceptible to outliers and does not provide information about the distribution of data points within the entire set. *Median and range* - The **median** describes the **center** of the data, particularly useful for skewed distributions or data with outliers. - The **range** is a simple measure of spread, but it's very sensitive to extreme values and does not give a comprehensive picture of data variability.
Question 4: The time period from entry of an infective agent into a host until the host develops the capacity for maximal infectivity is called:
- A. Incubation period
- B. Generation time (Correct Answer)
- C. Period of communicability
- D. Serial interval
Explanation: ***Generation time*** - This is defined as the time interval between **entry of an infective agent into a host** until the host develops **maximal infectivity**. - It represents the period from infection to when an infected individual is most capable of transmitting the disease to others. - This term precisely matches the question's definition and is crucial for understanding disease transmission dynamics. *Incubation period* - The incubation period is the time from exposure to an infectious agent until the onset of **clinical symptoms** in the host. - It ends at symptom onset, not at maximal infectivity (which may occur before, during, or after symptom onset depending on the disease). - While infectivity may peak during or near the incubation period for some diseases, this term specifically refers to symptom development, not infectivity capacity. *Serial interval* - The serial interval is the time between the onset of symptoms in a **primary case** and the onset of symptoms in a **secondary case**. - This describes the time between successive cases in a transmission chain, not the development of infectivity in an individual host. *Period of communicability* - This is the **entire duration** during which an infected person can transmit the infectious agent to others. - It describes the total infectious period (from start to end of infectivity), not specifically the time until **maximal** infectivity is reached.
Question 5: Consider the following statements: Symposium is a method of health education characterised by 1. a series of speeches on a selected topic 2. presentation of different aspects of a topic by 3 or 4 experts. 3. a discussion among the symposium members 4. the chairperson making a comprehensive summary at the end of the session Which of these statements are correct?
- A. 1, 3 and 4
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 4 (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***1, 2 and 4*** - A symposium is indeed characterized by a **series of speeches on a selected topic** (Statement 1) and the **presentation of different aspects of a topic by 3 or 4 experts** (Statement 2), providing a multifaceted view. - The chairperson typically plays a crucial role in concluding the session by **making a comprehensive summary** at the end (Statement 4), consolidating the diverse perspectives presented. *1, 3 and 4* - This option incorrectly includes "a discussion among the symposium members" (Statement 3) as a defining characteristic of a symposium. While discussion might occur after presentations, it's not the primary or required activity among the presenters themselves during the formal symposium structure. - A symposium primarily focuses on structured presentations from experts rather than an open discussion among them. *1, 2 and 3* - This option, like the first, incorrectly states that "a discussion among the symposium members" (Statement 3) is a core element of a symposium. - The format emphasizes individual expert presentations and a concluding summary over a direct discussion among the experts themselves. *2 and 3 only* - This option omits "a series of speeches on a selected topic" (Statement 1) and "the chairperson making a comprehensive summary at the end of the session" (Statement 4), both of which are fundamental characteristics of a symposium. - It also incorrectly includes Statement 3 ("discussion among symposium members"), which is not a defining feature of this format.
Question 6: Consider the following diseases: 1. Rift valley fever 2. Yellow Fever 3. Chikungunya fever 4. West Nile fever Which of the above diseases are transmitted by Aedes mosquito?
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 3 (Correct Answer)
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Explanation: ***1, 2 and 3*** - **Rift Valley fever**, **Yellow fever**, and **Chikungunya fever** are all primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of infected **Aedes mosquitoes**. - The **Aedes aegypti** and **Aedes albopictus** species are particularly significant vectors for these viral diseases. *1, 2 and 4* - This option incorrectly includes **West Nile fever** while omitting **Chikungunya fever**. - **West Nile fever** is primarily transmitted by **Culex mosquitoes**, not Aedes mosquitoes. *2, 3 and 4* - This option incorrectly includes **West Nile fever** as an Aedes mosquito-borne disease. - **Yellow fever** and **Chikungunya fever** are indeed transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, but **West Nile fever** is not. *1, 3 and 4* - This option incorrectly includes **West Nile fever** in the list of Aedes-borne diseases. - While **Rift Valley fever** and **Chikungunya fever** are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, **West Nile fever** is primarily transmitted by Culex species.
Question 7: Consider the following statements: Prophylactic disinfection includes 1. disinfection of urine specimen of patient with enteric fever 2. pasteurization of milk 3. disinfection of contaminated linen 4. disinfection of water by chlorine Which of these statements are correct?
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1, 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4 only
- D. 2 and 4 only (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Correct: 2 and 4 only*** - **Prophylactic (preventive) disinfection** is performed on materials that are *potentially* contaminated to prevent disease transmission BEFORE actual contamination occurs - **Pasteurization of milk** and **chlorination of water** are classic examples of prophylactic measures applied to substances before consumption - These are routine public health interventions performed regardless of known contamination *Incorrect: 1 and 3 only* - This incorrectly classifies **disinfection of urine specimens from enteric fever patients** and **disinfection of contaminated linen** as prophylactic measures - Both are examples of **concurrent/terminal disinfection** (performed on materials already known to be contaminated from infected patients) - Misses pasteurization and chlorination which are true prophylactic measures *Incorrect: 1, 2, 3 and 4* - While statements 2 and 4 are correct examples of prophylactic disinfection, statements 1 and 3 are NOT - **Statement 1** (disinfection of urine from enteric fever patient) is **concurrent disinfection** - the patient is already infected, and we're disinfecting their excreta - **Statement 3** (disinfection of contaminated linen) is **concurrent/terminal disinfection** - the linen is already contaminated - Prophylactic measures are preventive; concurrent/terminal measures deal with known contamination *Incorrect: 1, 2 and 4 only* - Incorrectly includes statement 1 (disinfection of urine from infected patient) which is concurrent disinfection, not prophylactic - Also incorrectly excludes statement 3 while the issue is that both 1 and 3 are not prophylactic measures
Question 8: Consider the following statements: 1. Registration of birth, even if the child is born in a hospital, is essentially the responsibility of parents only. 2. At present, the registration of birth has to be done not more than 15 days after the birth. Which of these statements is/are correct?
- A. 2 only
- B. Both 1 and 2
- C. 1 only
- D. Neither 1 nor 2 (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Neither 1 nor 2*** - Statement 1 is incorrect because the responsibility for birth registration in a hospital primarily lies with the **medical officer in charge** or other authorized personnel under Section 12 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, not solely the parents. - Statement 2 is incorrect because the stipulated period for birth registration is **21 days** from birth, not 15 days, according to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. *1 only* - This option is incorrect because Statement 1 wrongly places the **sole responsibility** for birth registration on parents, even in a hospital setting. - In a hospital, the **medical officer in charge** or designated staff is primarily responsible for initiating the registration process. *2 only* - This option is incorrect because Statement 2 incorrectly asserts that registration must be done within 15 days; the correct period is **21 days**. - Additionally, Statement 1 is also incorrect regarding the sole responsibility of parents. *Both 1 and 2* - This option is incorrect as both statements contain factual errors regarding the responsibility for birth registration and the prescribed timeline. - The responsibility extends beyond just parents, especially in a hospital setting, and the registration period is **21 days**, not 15 days.
Question 9: Sullivan Index is the measure of which of the following?
- A. Pregnancy rate
- B. Disability rate
- C. Quality of life (Correct Answer)
- D. Literacy rate
Explanation: ***Quality of life*** - The **Sullivan index** (also known as disability-free life expectancy) is a health indicator that measures the expected years of life free from disability. - It combines mortality data with data on self-reported disability to assess the **overall health and well-being** of a population. *Pregnancy rate* - This measures the **number of pregnancies** per 1,000 women of reproductive age. - It is a demographic indicator and is **not related** to the Sullivan Index. *Disability rate* - This measures the **prevalence or incidence of disability** within a population at a specific time. - While disability data is used in the Sullivan index calculation, the index itself represents a **health expectancy** (years lived without disability), not just the rate of disability. *Literacy rate* - This measures the **percentage of the population** that can read and write. - It is an **educational and social indicator** and has no direct relation to the Sullivan index.
Question 10: Consider the following statements: The strategy to eradicate poliomyelitis in India comprised of: 1. Conducting National Immunization Days 2. Mopping up rounds with OPV 3. Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance 4. Public awareness through multimedia Which of these statements are correct?
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***1, 2, 3 and 4*** * All four strategies—**National Immunization Days (NIDs)**, **mopping-up rounds with OPV**, **Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance**, and **public awareness campaigns**—were integral to India's successful polio eradication effort. * These components collectively ensured high vaccination coverage, targeted interventions in high-risk areas, effective case detection, and community engagement, leading to the country being declared polio-free. *1 and 3 only* * This option is incomplete as it omits **mopping-up rounds** and **public awareness**, both of which were crucial for achieving and maintaining high herd immunity and community participation. * While **NIDs** and **AFP surveillance** were foundational, they alone would not have been sufficient for complete eradication without the other critical components. *2 and 4 only* * This option overlooks **National Immunization Days (NIDs)**, which were large-scale, nationwide vaccination campaigns fundamental to delivering OPV to a vast population. * It also omits **Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance**, which was essential for identifying and investigating all suspected polio cases, allowing for rapid response and containment. *1, 2 and 3 only* * This option does not include **public awareness through multimedia**, which was vital for informing parents about the importance of vaccination, addressing vaccine hesitancy, and mobilizing community support during campaigns. * While **NIDs**, **mopping-up rounds**, and **AFP surveillance** targeted the biological and operational aspects, public awareness was critical for the social and behavioral components of the eradication strategy.