Dengue fever is transmitted by?

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Explanation

Dengue fever is a viral illness transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti.
These mosquitoes are often called 'tiger mosquitoes' due to the characteristic white stripes on their black body and legs.
They are distinct for being daytime biters and breeding in artificial collections of clean water found in and around human dwellings, such as water coolers, flower pots, and discarded tires.

Option B: Culex mosquitoes are vectors for diseases like Japanese Encephalitis, West Nile fever, and Bancroftian filariasis, not Dengue fever.
Option C: Anopheles mosquitoes are the well-known vectors for Malaria.
Option D: Mansonia mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting Brugian 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.
A nurse's primary role is in patient and community education regarding 'source reduction'—eliminating mosquito breeding sites by emptying, cleaning, or covering water containers to prevent the spread of dengue.
Nurses must be able to differentiate the signs of dengue (high fever, retro-orbital pain, rash, potential for hemorrhage) from other febrile illnesses like malaria or chikungunya to ensure timely and appropriate care.
What if? If a patient with fever and body aches has a travel history to a region known for malaria but not dengue, the priority investigation would shift from dengue serology (NS1 antigen) to a peripheral blood smear for malaria parasites.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from community health nursing and preventive medicine.
First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the vector for 'Dengue fever'.
Systematically recall or associate the common mosquito-borne diseases with their specific vectors.
Evaluate each option: Anopheles is famously linked to Malaria, and Culex to Encephalitis/Filariasis. This process of elimination helps confirm Aedes as the correct vector for Dengue.
Remembering key visual characteristics, like the 'tiger stripes' of the Aedes mosquito, can serve as a helpful memory aid.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QozqCCEPfVauONcirywj5T

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

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

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

Practise the full NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

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