DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)
Medical Surgical Nursing
Easy
An acute respiratory disorder characterized by paroxysmal cough (whooping cough) and copious secretions is called?
Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)
Explanation
- Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
- Its hallmark symptom is a severe paroxysmal cough, which consists of rapid, violent coughing fits followed by a forceful inspiration that creates a high-pitched 'whoop' sound.
- The infection leads to inflammation and paralysis of respiratory cilia, resulting in the production of copious, thick mucus, matching the question's description.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Scarlet fever is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes and is primarily characterized by a sandpaper-like rash and a strawberry tongue, not a paroxysmal cough.
- Option B: Diphtheria, caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, is identified by a thick, gray pseudomembrane in the throat and a swollen neck ('bull neck'), which can cause airway obstruction. It does not feature a 'whooping' cough.
- Option D: Tetanus is a neurological disease caused by the toxin of Clostridium tetani. It affects the nervous system, causing severe muscle spasms and rigidity (lockjaw), and is not a respiratory infection characterized by coughing.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of infectious respiratory diseases based on hallmark symptoms as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Nurses must recognize the signs of Pertussis to implement droplet precautions immediately, as it is highly contagious and poses a significant risk, especially to infants and young children.
- A key nursing role is educating patients and families about the importance of the DTaP/Tdap vaccine schedule for prevention.
- Monitoring for complications is crucial, especially in infants, who may present with apnea (periods of not breathing) instead of the classic whoop, which is a medical emergency.
How to Approach the Question
- First, break down the question stem to identify the defining symptoms: 'acute respiratory disorder,' 'paroxysmal cough (whooping cough),' and 'copious secretions.'
- Recognize that 'whooping cough' is the common name for a specific medical condition.
- Systematically evaluate each option based on its known hallmark symptoms.
- Eliminate Scarlet fever, as its key features are a rash and strawberry tongue.
- Eliminate Diphtheria, which is characterized by a pseudomembrane in the throat.
- Eliminate Tetanus, a neurological disease causing muscle spasms, not a respiratory infection.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Identification of infectious respiratory diseases based on hallmark symptoms.
- Stem keywords: acute respiratory disorder, paroxysmal cough, whooping cough, copious secretions
- Lead-in keywords: is called
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QEDnMg9janpzaG7CADYR2q
Reference Book
E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 372-374
E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1766-1768
E6 Microbiology OneStop Sastry p. 129-131
Practise the full DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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