UPSC-CMS 2016 - Community Medicine PYQs Practice Questions

Q: In India, the commonest cause of unilateral lymphoedema of lower limb is:

Filariasis. ***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. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: The most common site for nosocomial (hospital acquired) infection is:

Urinary tract. ***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. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: The two important values necessary for describing the variation in a series of observations are:

Mean and standard deviation. ***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. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: The time period from entry of an infective agent into a host until the host develops the capacity for maximal infectivity is called:

Generation time. ***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. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: 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?

1, 2 and 4. ***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. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Question 1

In India, the commonest cause of unilateral lymphoedema of lower limb is:

Accepted Answer

Filariasis

Answer

Tubercular lymphadenopathy

Answer

Carcinoma of penis

Answer

Lymphoedema tarda

Question 2

The most common site for nosocomial (hospital acquired) infection is:

Accepted Answer

Urinary tract

Answer

Surgical site

Answer

Blood stream

Answer

Respiratory tract

Question 3

The two important values necessary for describing the variation in a series of observations are:

Accepted Answer

Mean and standard deviation

Answer

Median and standard deviation

Answer

Mean and range

Answer

Median and range

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:

Accepted Answer

Generation time

Answer

Incubation period

Answer

Period of communicability

Answer

Serial interval

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?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

2 and 3 only

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?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 3 and 4

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?

Accepted Answer

2 and 4 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 4 only

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?

Accepted Answer

Neither 1 nor 2

Answer

2 only

Answer

Both 1 and 2

Answer

1 only

Question 9

Sullivan Index is the measure of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Quality of life

Answer

Pregnancy rate

Answer

Disability rate

Answer

Literacy rate

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?

Accepted Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

UPSC-CMS 2016 — Community Medicine