Classical dengue fever is transmitted by?

Appeared in: HPSSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Explanation

Dengue fever is a viral illness transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito, with Aedes aegypti being the principal vector.
This mosquito is easily identified by the characteristic white stripes on its legs and body, often called the 'tiger mosquito'.
It is primarily a day-biting mosquito, with peak feeding times in the early morning and late afternoon.
Aedes mosquitoes breed in artificial collections of clean, stagnant water in and around human dwellings, such as flower pots, discarded tires, and water storage containers.

Option B: The Culex mosquito is not the vector for dengue fever. It typically breeds in dirty, polluted water.
Option C: The Anopheles mosquito is the well-known vector for Malaria, not dengue fever. It is primarily a night-biting mosquito.
Option D: The Mansonoides (or Mansonia) mosquito transmits Brugian filariasis, a specific type of lymphatic filariasis.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vector-borne diseases and their transmission as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are at the forefront of public health education. Teaching communities about source reduction (eliminating mosquito breeding sites) is the most effective strategy to prevent dengue outbreaks.
Early recognition of dengue symptoms (high fever, severe headache, retro-orbital pain, muscle/joint pain, rash) is critical for timely management and preventing progression to severe dengue (Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever/Dengue Shock Syndrome).
What if? If a patient presents with high fever and chills that occur in cycles (e.g., every 48-72 hours) and reports being bitten by mosquitoes at night, the nurse's primary suspicion should shift towards Malaria (transmitted by Anopheles) rather than Dengue.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: it asks for the specific vector (transmitter) for 'dengue fever'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question from Community Health Nursing or Microbiology.
Systematically review the options, recalling the primary disease associated with each mosquito genus.
Associate Aedes with dengue, chikungunya, and zika.
Associate Anopheles with malaria.
Associate Culex with Japanese encephalitis and filariasis.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QyCokwOQ3WR36i2lUbXbsQ

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 2073-2075

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 87-89

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 104-106

Practise the full HPSSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.