Match List – I and List – II and select the correct answer from the code given below:

List – I	List – II
Communicable Diseases	Incubation Period
A. Cholera	1. 2 – 7 days
B. Diphtheria	2. 1 – 2 days
C. Measles	3. 14 – 18 days
D. Mumps	4. 10 – 14 days

1. A

   A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2

2. B

   A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3

3. C

   A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

4. D

   A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

Appeared in: UPPSC 2017

Explanation

• Cholera (A) is known for its very short incubation period, typically 1-2 days, leading to a rapid onset of severe diarrhea and dehydration. This matches item 2.
• Diphtheria (B) has a standard incubation period of 2-7 days before symptoms like sore throat, fever, and a swollen neck appear. This matches item 1.
• Measles (C) has a well-defined incubation period of 10-14 days between exposure and the appearance of its characteristic maculopapular rash. This matches item 4.
• Mumps (D) is characterized by a longer incubation period, typically 14-18 days, before the onset of parotid gland swelling. This matches item 3.
• Based on these facts, the correct combination is A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This option incorrectly matches Cholera with a 2-7 day period and Diphtheria with a 14-18 day period. Cholera's incubation is much shorter, and Diphtheria's is not that long.
• Option B: This option incorrectly matches Diphtheria with 10-14 days (the period for Measles) and Measles with 2-7 days (the period for Diphtheria).
• Option C: This option incorrectly assigns a long 10-14 day incubation period to Cholera, which is known for its rapid onset. It also mismatches Measles and Mumps.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Incubation periods of common communicable diseases as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• Knowledge of incubation periods is critical for nurses in public health for contact tracing and implementing timely quarantine or surveillance measures to prevent outbreaks.
• This knowledge helps in creating a differential diagnosis. If a patient presents with symptoms, knowing the incubation period can help narrow down the potential cause based on their recent exposure history.
• It is essential for patient education, as nurses can inform contacts of an infected person about the timeframe within which they should monitor for symptoms.

How to Approach the Question

• First, analyze the two lists. List-I contains communicable diseases, and List-II contains time periods representing their incubation periods.
• Your task is to correctly match each disease with its typical incubation period.
• Start with the disease whose incubation period you know best. For instance, Cholera is famous for its very rapid onset.
• Match Cholera (A) with the shortest duration available, which is '1 – 2 days' (item 2). This gives you the first pair: A-2.
• Review the given options. Any option that does not begin with A-2 can be immediately eliminated. In this case, options A and C are incorrect.
• Now, differentiate between the remaining options (B and D) by matching another disease. Mumps, for example, has a relatively long incubation period, '14 – 18 days' (item 3), which gives you D-3.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Incubation periods of common communicable diseases.
• Stem keywords: Communicable Diseases, Incubation Period, Cholera, Diphtheria, Measles, Mumps
• Lead-in keywords: Match, select the correct answer
• Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QAUZpgkIddJYqSSUAePtBQ

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 131-133

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 92-94