Dengue disease is caused by?

Appeared in: SGPGI Nursing Officer-2022

Explanation

Dengue is a viral infection caused by the Dengue virus (DENV), which is transmitted by mosquitoes.
DENV is an RNA virus that belongs to the family Flaviviridae.
There are four distinct, but closely related, serotypes of the virus that cause dengue: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.
The disease is characterized by fever, headache, rash, and severe muscle and joint pain, which is why it is also known as 'breakbone fever'.

Option B: Bacteria are prokaryotic microorganisms. Dengue is caused by a virus, not a bacterium.
Option C: Protozoa are single-celled eukaryotic organisms. Dengue is a viral disease.
Option D: While viruses are technically obligate intracellular parasites, in the context of infectious disease classification, this option typically refers to protozoa or helminths (worms). Dengue is caused by a virus.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Causative agent of Dengue disease helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Management of dengue is primarily supportive. Nurses must educate patients to use paracetamol for fever and strictly avoid Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin, as they can increase the risk of hemorrhage.
Nurses play a critical role in monitoring for warning signs of severe dengue, which typically appear as the fever subsides. These include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, and any signs of bleeding.
Community health nurses are vital in dengue prevention through education on eliminating mosquito breeding sites (e.g., removing stagnant water) and promoting personal protective measures.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is asking for the causative agent of a specific disease (Dengue).
Access your foundational knowledge of microbiology and common infectious diseases.
Evaluate each option: 'Virus', 'Bacteria', 'Protozoa', 'Parasites'. Consider common examples for each category.
Recall or deduce that Dengue is a well-known mosquito-borne viral illness, often called 'breakbone fever'.
Select 'Virus' as the correct agent and mentally rule out the other categories by associating them with different diseases (e.g., Bacteria -> TB, Protozoa -> Malaria).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 241-243

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-275 of 550) p. 93-95

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 360-362

Practise the full SGPGI Nursing Officer-2022

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