One of the following is a viral disease:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

Explanation

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a group of viruses known as hepatotropic viruses.
There are five main types: Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, each with distinct modes of transmission and clinical features.
Hepatitis A and E are typically transmitted via the fecal-oral route, while Hepatitis B, C, and D are transmitted through infected blood or body fluids.

Option A: Cholera is a bacterial infection, not a viral one.
Option B: Tuberculosis (TB) is a classic example of a bacterial disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Option C: Typhoid fever is a systemic infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Classification of communicable diseases (viral vs. bacterial) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Differentiating between viral and bacterial infections is a fundamental nursing skill critical for anticipating the correct treatment; antibiotics are effective against bacteria but not viruses, which may require antiviral medications.
Identifying the pathogen type (viral vs. bacterial) is essential for implementing the correct infection control precautions. For example, Hepatitis A requires contact precautions for fecal incontinence, whereas Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions.
What if? If a patient presented with a fungal infection like Candidiasis, the treatment would involve antifungal medications (e.g., Fluconazole), not antibiotics or the antivirals used for some types of hepatitis.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of common communicable diseases and their causative agents.
First, carefully read the question to identify the specific task, which is to select the 'viral disease' from the list.
Systematically review each option and recall its pathogen.
Classify the pathogen for each disease: Cholera is caused by a bacterium (Vibrio cholerae), Tuberculosis by a bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), and Typhoid by a bacterium (Salmonella typhi).
Identify that Hepatitis is caused by a virus (Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, E).
Select the option that matches the 'viral' criterion.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-275 of 550) p. 34-36

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 61-63

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

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