It is a leading cause of death in infants and young children?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2017

Explanation

Diarrheal infection is a primary cause of death in children under five worldwide, as stated in multiple global health reports.
Mortality is not caused by the infection itself but by severe dehydration and the loss of essential electrolytes, which can rapidly lead to circulatory collapse and death.
Infants and young children are especially vulnerable because they have a higher body water content and a higher metabolic rate, leading to quicker depletion of fluid reserves compared to adults.
According to global health data, while other causes are significant, diarrheal diseases consistently rank as a top infectious cause of death in this age group, particularly in developing countries (SRC_26917).

Option A: While malaria is a major cause of death in children under five, its impact is concentrated in specific endemic regions, primarily sub-Saharan Africa. It is not the leading cause of death globally across all infants and young children.
Option B: Congenital anomalies are a leading cause of death in the neonatal period (the first 28 days of life) and in high-income countries. However, when considering the entire under-five age range globally, infectious causes like diarrhea are more prominent.
Option D: This option is too broad. 'Communicable disease' is a category that includes diarrheal infections, respiratory infections, malaria, and measles. While a communicable disease is the leading cause, 'diarrheal infection' is a more specific and accurate answer from the choices provided.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Leading causes of mortality in infants and young children as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary role is the rapid assessment of a child's hydration status. Using the WHO guidelines helps standardize this assessment and initiate life-saving interventions promptly.
Nurses are crucial for parent education on preparing and administering ORS, recognizing danger signs, and preventive measures like hygiene and vaccination, which are key to reducing mortality from diarrhea.
What if? If a child with some dehydration (Plan B) starts vomiting persistently and cannot retain ORS, the nurse must escalate care. The plan would change to Plan C, involving the insertion of a nasogastric tube for ORS administration or starting IV fluids if the child's condition deteriorates further.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question's core focus: the 'leading cause of death' in 'infants and young children' on a global scale.
Evaluate each option for its specificity and global impact. 'Communicable disease' is a broad category, making it less likely to be the best answer compared to a specific disease.
Compare the remaining specific options. Consider the global prevalence and mortality burden of each. While Malaria and Congenital anomalies are significant, diarrheal disease is a massive global killer in the under-5 age group.
Recall or deduce that the primary danger of diarrhea in young children is dehydration. This pathophysiological fact underscores its high mortality rate.
Select 'Diarrheal infection' as it is a specific, high-impact cause of death in the specified population, primarily due to the complication of dehydration.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Leading causes of mortality in infants and young children.
Stem keywords: leading cause of death, infants, young children
Lead-in keywords: is
Clinical cues: The age group 'infants and young children' is a key cue, as this population is particularly vulnerable to dehydration from diarrheal diseases.

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 71-73

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 1748-1750

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2017

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