Out of the following diseases, which is NOT a contact disease?

DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Applied Microbiology & Infection control (E5)

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic medical condition, not an infectious disease.
It is classified as a non-communicable disease (NCD) because it cannot be spread from person to person.
The primary causes of hypertension are a combination of genetic factors, lifestyle choices (like diet, exercise, and stress), and aging.
Unlike contact diseases, there is no pathogen (like a virus, bacterium, or fungus) involved in the development of hypertension.

Option A: Ringworm (tinea) is a classic example of a contact disease. It is a fungal infection that spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal, or indirectly through contact with contaminated objects (fomites).
Option B: Yaws is a bacterial infection transmitted primarily through direct skin-to-skin contact with the infectious lesions of an infected person. Therefore, it is a contact disease. (SRC_19552, SRC_19553)
Option C: Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. While not as contagious as other diseases, it is transmitted through prolonged and close contact with an untreated individual, likely via respiratory droplets. This mode of transmission still falls under the broad category of communicable diseases spread by a form of contact. (SRC_19554)

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Disease Transmission and Classification helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the mode of transmission is fundamental for nurses to implement appropriate infection control measures, such as contact, droplet, or airborne precautions.
Patient education is a key nursing role. Nurses must accurately explain to patients and families how diseases are spread (or not spread) to reduce fear, stigma (especially for diseases like leprosy), and prevent transmission.
For non-communicable diseases like hypertension, nursing care focuses on patient education about lifestyle modifications, medication adherence, and regular monitoring, rather than infection control.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'NOT a contact disease'. This means you are looking for the outlier, the condition that is not spread through contact.
Analyze each option one by one.
Recall or determine the nature of each disease. Is it caused by a pathogen (bacterium, virus, fungus)? If so, how is it spread?
Ringworm is a known fungal skin infection, spread by touch. This is a contact disease.
Yaws and Leprosy are bacterial infections. Even if you are unsure of the exact transmission, being infectious makes them likely candidates for contact transmission.
Hypertension is high blood pressure. This is a condition of the cardiovascular system, not an infection. It is not caused by a germ and cannot be 'caught' from someone.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Disease Transmission and Classification
Stem keywords: diseases, contact disease
Lead-in keywords: NOT
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks to identify the option that is NOT a contact disease.

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