The disease not spread by louse

Appeared in: UPPSC 2017

Explanation

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii.
The primary mode of transmission to humans is through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols or dust from infected animals like cattle, sheep, and goats.
Unlike the other options, Q fever is not transmitted by lice. Ticks can be vectors but are not the primary route for human infection.

Option A: Epidemic typhus is a classic louse-borne disease caused by Rickettsia prowazekii and transmitted by the human body louse.
Option C: The epidemic form of relapsing fever is caused by Borrelia recurrentis and is transmitted by the body louse.
Option D: Trench fever, caused by Bartonella quintana, is transmitted by the body louse through its feces.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Vector-borne diseases and their modes of transmission helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the transmission routes of infectious diseases is critical for nurses to implement correct infection control measures, such as standard, contact, or airborne precautions.
Patient history taking should include questions about travel, occupation (e.g., farming, veterinary work), and exposure to animals or arthropods to help narrow down the differential diagnosis for febrile illnesses.
Public health education on personal hygiene, delousing measures in crowded living conditions, and safe practices when handling animals are key nursing roles in preventing these diseases.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the keyword 'NOT' in the question stem. This indicates you need to find the option that is an exception.
The question asks to identify the disease that is NOT spread by lice. This requires knowledge of vectors for different infectious diseases.
Systematically review each option and recall its mode of transmission.
Evaluate Epidemic typhus (louse-borne), Relapsing fever (louse-borne), and Trench fever (louse-borne).
Identify Q fever, which is transmitted primarily by aerosols from infected animals, not lice.
Conclude that Q fever is the correct answer as it is the only option not transmitted by lice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Vector-borne diseases and their modes of transmission
Stem keywords: disease, spread, louse
Lead-in keywords: not
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks to identify the option that does NOT fit the given criteria (spread by louse).

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 165-167

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 291-293

Practise the full UPPSC 2017

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