Rice water stool is characteristic of:

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO-2016

Explanation

Rice water stool is the hallmark clinical sign of cholera, an infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
The bacterium produces cholera toxin, which causes the intestinal cells to secrete enormous amounts of water and electrolytes into the intestinal lumen.
This results in profuse, painless, watery diarrhea that contains flecks of mucus, resembling the water used to wash rice.
The fluid loss can be extremely rapid (up to 1 liter per hour), leading to severe dehydration, shock, and death if not treated promptly.

Option B: Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium and transmitted by mosquitoes. Its classic symptoms are cyclical fever, chills, sweats, and anemia.
Option C: Chikungunya is a viral illness transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Its most prominent feature is the abrupt onset of fever and severe, often debilitating, joint pain (arthralgia).
Option D: Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. It is characterized by fever, muscle pain, headache, and in severe cases, jaundice (yellow skin/eyes) and bleeding.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Characteristic signs of infectious diseases as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing rice water stool is a critical nursing assessment skill that allows for the immediate suspicion of cholera, prompting rapid initiation of life-saving rehydration therapy.
Cholera is a notifiable disease. A suspected case requires immediate implementation of infection control measures (contact precautions) to prevent outbreaks, especially in hospital settings or communities with poor sanitation.
The cornerstone of cholera management is fluid replacement. Nurses must be proficient in calculating fluid deficits and administering Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) or intravenous fluids (like Ringer's Lactate) to prevent hypovolemic shock.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'Rice water stool'. This is a specific, classic clinical sign.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge of microbiology and infectious diseases to link this pathognomonic sign to a specific illness.
Evaluate the options. Cholera is famously associated with rice water stool.
Briefly consider the other options to confirm they are incorrect. Malaria (fever/chills), Chikungunya (joint pain), and Yellow fever (jaundice) have different primary presentations.
Select the option that directly matches the classic sign described in the stem.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QAWAsxQHZ0tHPlyOKAGadP

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1791-1793

E6 Microbiology Essentials Sastry 4e Part 2 p. 2-4

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 285-287

Practise the full AIIMS Delhi NO-2016

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