Schick test is done to confirm?

Appeared in: IGIMS Staff Nurse - 2018

Explanation

The Schick test is specifically designed to determine a person's susceptibility to diphtheria.
It is an in-vivo neutralization test where a small amount of diphtheria toxin is injected into the skin.
A positive reaction (redness and swelling) indicates that the person does not have enough antibodies to neutralize the toxin and is therefore susceptible to the disease.
A negative reaction (no skin change) signifies that the person is immune.

Option A: The Schick test is not used for Influenza. Influenza is a viral respiratory illness diagnosed through methods like PCR or rapid antigen tests on respiratory samples.
Option B: The Schick test is unrelated to Pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis is diagnosed by identifying the bacterium Bordetella pertussis through nasopharyngeal culture or PCR.
Option D: The Schick test does not diagnose Cholera. Cholera, a bacterial infection causing severe diarrhea, is confirmed by identifying Vibrio cholerae in a stool sample through culture or rapid diagnostic tests.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Diagnostic tests for infectious diseases as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The Schick test is now largely of historical interest in countries with high vaccination coverage, as the DPT/DTaP vaccine has made diphtheria rare.
A nurse's primary role is not to perform this test but to assess and document a patient's immunization history, which is the main indicator of immunity today.
Understanding the principle of the test helps in appreciating how immunity to toxin-mediated diseases works.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core term in the question, which is 'Schick test'.
This is a factual recall question. Your task is to retrieve the specific disease associated with this diagnostic test.
Systematically evaluate each option.
Recall or deduce that the Schick test is a classic, eponymously named test in microbiology.
Link 'Schick test' directly to 'Diphtheria'. This is a common pairing in nursing and medical education.
Eliminate the other options by recalling their respective diagnostic methods (e.g., swabs for influenza/pertussis, stool samples for cholera).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Microbiology Applied AnjuDhir 3e Part 2 p. 106-108

Practise the full IGIMS Staff Nurse - 2018

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