UPSC-CMS 2025 - Community Medicine PYQs Practice Questions

Q: Which one among the following vectors transmits the filaria *Loa loa*?

Chrysops. ***Chrysops*** - **Deer flies** of the genus *Chrysops* are the **intermediate hosts** for *Loa loa*, transmitting the microfilariae when they bite. - These flies are typically found in the **humid rainforests of West and Central Africa**, where loiasis is endemic. *Cyclops* - *Cyclops* (copepods) are the **intermediate hosts** for **Dracunculus medinensis** (guinea worm) and **Diphyllobothrium latum** (fish tapeworm). - They are **freshwater crustaceans** and not involved in the transmission of filarial worms like *Loa loa*. *Simulium* - *Simulium* (blackflies) are the **vectors** for **Onchocerca volvulus**, which causes **onchocerciasis** (river blindness). - These flies breed in **fast-flowing rivers** and are known for their painful bites. *Culicoides* - *Culicoides* (biting midges) are the **vectors** for **Mansonella perstans** and **Mansonella streptocerca** filarial worms, as well as some viral diseases. - They are distinct from the *Chrysops* flies that transmit *Loa loa*. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: Which of the following are included as a "Deficiency" under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) ? I. Hypothyroidism II. Vitamin A deficiency III. Anemia IV. Vitamin D deficiency Select the correct answer using the code given below :

II, III and IV. ***II, III and IV*** - The **Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)** focuses on early identification and management of health conditions in children from birth to 18 years through the **"4Ds" framework**: Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, and Development delays. - Under **"Deficiencies"**, RBSK specifically includes: - **Vitamin A deficiency** - Causes night blindness and increased infection risk - **Anemia** - Commonly due to iron, folate, or B12 deficiency - **Vitamin D deficiency** - Leads to rickets and bone health issues - **Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)** - **Hypothyroidism** is classified under **"Diseases"** (along with diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, etc.), NOT deficiencies, making it incorrect for this question. *I, III and IV* - This option incorrectly includes **Hypothyroidism** as a deficiency, when it is actually classified under **"Diseases"** in the RBSK framework. - While Anemia (III) and Vitamin D deficiency (IV) are correctly identified as deficiencies, the inclusion of Hypothyroidism makes this option incorrect. *I, II and IV* - This option incorrectly includes **Hypothyroidism**, which falls under **"Diseases"** rather than deficiencies. - Although Vitamin A deficiency (II) and Vitamin D deficiency (IV) are correct deficiencies, the inclusion of Hypothyroidism disqualifies this option. *I, II and III* - This option incorrectly includes **Hypothyroidism** as a deficiency. RBSK categorizes endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism under **"Diseases"**. - While Vitamin A deficiency (II) and Anemia (III) are correctly identified as deficiencies, the inclusion of Hypothyroidism makes this option inaccurate. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: The mother of a 14-month-old normally developing baby comes to you for feeding advice. Which of the following would be appropriate for her as per the IMNCI (Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness) Program? I. Breastfeed as often as the child wants II. Keep the child in your lap and feed with your own hands III. Offer food from the family pot IV. Give 3 to 4 meals each day Select the correct answer using the code given below :

I, III and IV. ***I, III and IV*** - The IMNCI guidelines recommend continuing **breastfeeding on demand** up to two years of age or beyond, as it remains an important source of nutrients and immunity for the child. - Feeding from the **family pot** ensures the child is exposed to a variety of foods and is integrated into family eating patterns, and 3-4 meals per day is appropriate for a 14-month-old, providing adequate energy and nutrients. *II, III and IV* - While feeding from the family pot and 3-4 meals per day are correct, the recommendation to keep the child in the lap and feed with one's own hands is not universally applicable or the sole recommended method; promoting responsive feeding involves observing and responding to the child's cues. - The IMNCI guidelines emphasize **responsive feeding practices** where the caregiver observes and responds to the child's hunger and satiety cues rather than a specific physical feeding method. *I, II and IV* - Continuing breastfeeding and providing 3-4 meals per day are correct, but feeding with one's own hands in the lap is not a primary IMNCI guideline for feeding practices, which instead focuses on the quality of food and responsive feeding. - **Offering food from the family pot** is a crucial IMNCI recommendation to ensure dietary diversity and integration into family meals, which is missing from this option. *I, II and III* - While continuing breastfeeding and feeding from the family pot are correct, the explicit instruction to "keep the child in your lap and feed with your own hands" is not a central or universally emphasized IMNCI guideline in the same way as responsive feeding and dietary diversity. - The number of meals per day (3-4) is an important practical aspect of feeding a 14-month-old, which is excluded from this option, making it incomplete. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: A surgical department of a premier medical college conducted a study on rates of post-operative wound infection. The results of the study were negative for the proposed hypothesis. What should the department do with the results?

Report the negative results. **Report the negative results** - All research findings, whether positive or negative, contribute to the body of scientific knowledge and should be **ethically reported** to prevent publication bias. - Reporting negative results helps other researchers avoid duplicating efforts and can inform future study designs, potentially leading to a better understanding of the topic. *Label them as worthless* - Labeling negative results as "worthless" contradicts the principles of **scientific integrity** and promotes publication bias, where only positive findings are disseminated. - Even negative findings can provide crucial insights, indicating that a particular intervention or hypothesis is not supported, thus saving time and resources for future research. *Redo the study with a new hypothesis* - While forming new hypotheses may be necessary in some cases, redoing the study with a completely new hypothesis without reporting the initial negative results would be **unethical** and contribute to the problem of **publication bias**. - **New hypotheses** should ideally be formulated based on a comprehensive understanding of existing research, including negative findings. *Redesign the study and increase the sample size* - While redesigning the study and increasing sample size might be appropriate after the initial results have been reported and analyzed, the **immediate and ethical step** is to report the existing negative findings. - A larger sample size alone does not guarantee positive results; careful reevaluation of the methods and hypothesis is needed if the initial study was well-conducted. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: Which of the following are criteria for cancer screening? I. Screening test should be sensitive and specific II. Screening test should be acceptable to the screened population III. The disease should be an uncommon one for screening to be effective IV. Disease should be recognisable at an early stage Select the correct answer using the code given below :

I, II and IV. ***I, II and IV*** - A successful **screening test** should be **sensitive** (correctly identify those with the disease) and **specific** (correctly identify those without the disease) to minimize false negatives and false positives. - For a screening program to be effective, the test must be **acceptable** to the target population to ensure high participation rates. The disease should also be **recognizable at an early stage** to allow for timely and effective intervention. *II, III and IV* - This option is partially correct as it includes acceptability and early recognition, but incorrectly states that the disease should be uncommon. In reality, screening is often more impactful for diseases with a higher prevalence. - The claim that the disease should be uncommon is incorrect; screening programs are often prioritized for relatively common diseases where early detection can significantly alter outcomes. *I, III and IV* - This option correctly identifies the need for a sensitive and specific test, and early disease recognition, but it incorrectly asserts that the disease should be an uncommon one. - Screening is generally most beneficial for diseases with a significant prevalence, allowing for a substantial impact on public health. *I, II and III* - This option accurately points to the necessity of a sensitive and specific test and its acceptability to the screened population, but it mistakenly suggests that the disease should be uncommon. - Effective screening targets diseases where early detection can lead to improved outcomes, which are often diseases with a notable burden in the population. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Question 1

Which one among the following vectors transmits the filaria *Loa loa*?

Accepted Answer

Chrysops

Answer

Cyclops

Answer

Simulium

Answer

Culicoides

Question 2

Which of the following are included as a "Deficiency" under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) ?
I. Hypothyroidism
II. Vitamin A deficiency
III. Anemia
IV. Vitamin D deficiency

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Accepted Answer

II, III and IV

Answer

I, III and IV

Answer

I, II and IV

Answer

I, II and III

Question 3

The mother of a 14-month-old normally developing baby comes to you for feeding advice. Which of the following would be appropriate for her as per the IMNCI (Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness) Program?
I. Breastfeed as often as the child wants
II. Keep the child in your lap and feed with your own hands
III. Offer food from the family pot
IV. Give 3 to 4 meals each day

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Accepted Answer

I, III and IV

Answer

II, III and IV

Answer

I, II and IV

Answer

I, II and III

Question 4

A surgical department of a premier medical college conducted a study on rates of post-operative wound infection. The results of the study were negative for the proposed hypothesis. What should the department do with the results?

Accepted Answer

Report the negative results

Answer

Label them as worthless

Answer

Redo the study with a new hypothesis

Answer

Redesign the study and increase the sample size

Question 5

Which of the following are criteria for cancer screening?
I. Screening test should be sensitive and specific
II. Screening test should be acceptable to the screened population
III. The disease should be an uncommon one for screening to be effective
IV. Disease should be recognisable at an early stage
Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Accepted Answer

I, II and IV

Answer

II, III and IV

Answer

I, III and IV

Answer

I, II and III

Question 6

As an index of thermal comfort, the 'Corrected Effective Temperature' is considered to be an improvement over 'Effective Temperature'. It deals with which of the following factors?
I. Air velocity
II. Humidity
III. Mean radiant heat
IV. Sweat rate

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Accepted Answer

I, II and III

Answer

I, III and IV

Answer

II, III and IV

Answer

I and II only

Question 7

In a child who has not received any dose of DPT and OPV immunization, up to what age can these vaccines be given under the Universal Immunization Programme?

Accepted Answer

DPT up to 7 years of age and OPV up to 5 years of age

Answer

DPT up to 10 years of age and OPV up to 7 years of age

Answer

DPT up to 12 years of age and OPV up to 10 years of age

Answer

DPT up to 8 years of age and OPV up to 6 years of age

Question 8

A traveller who has passed through a yellow fever endemic zone and does not possess a Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever, enters a yellow fever 'receptive' area. For how long from the date of leaving the infected area must this traveller be placed on quarantine in a mosquito-proof ward?

Accepted Answer

6 days

Answer

7 days

Answer

8 days

Answer

10 days

Question 9

Under the Employees' State Insurance Act 1948, if the sickness of an insured person is duly certified by an Insurance Medical Officer, periodical cash payment benefit is payable for a maximum period of how many days in any continuous period of 365 days, as Sickness Benefit?

Accepted Answer

91 days

Answer

61 days

Answer

121 days

Answer

30 days

Question 10

A housefly transmits any infectious agent by which of the following methods, most commonly?

Accepted Answer

Mechanical transmission

Answer

Propagative transmission

Answer

Cyclo-propagative transmission

Answer

Cyclo-developmental transmission

UPSC-CMS 2025 — Community Medicine