The disease that is also known as darling's disease is:

Appeared in: DSSSB 14 August 2024

Explanation

Histoplasmosis is a primary systemic mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.
It is also known as 'Darling's disease', named after Samuel T. Darling who first described the pathogen.
The fungus is commonly found in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings, and infection occurs through inhalation of spores.

Option A: Oral thrush is a specific manifestation of candidiasis, an infection caused by Candida species, typically Candida albicans. It is not known as Darling's disease.
Option C: Candidiasis is a broad term for any infection caused by the yeast Candida. While it can cause various conditions, it is not synonymous with Darling's disease.
Option D: Mucormycosis is a different, severe, and often rapidly progressing fungal infection caused by molds called mucormycetes. It is not Darling's disease.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Eponyms in infectious diseases, specifically related to fungal infections helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses should obtain a thorough travel and occupational history (e.g., cave exploration, farming, construction) from patients presenting with unexplained fever, cough, and fatigue, as this can be a key clue for diagnosing histoplasmosis.
Recognizing the link between the eponym 'Darling's disease' and histoplasmosis is important for communication and understanding medical literature.
What if? If a patient with uncontrolled diabetes presented with black, necrotic tissue in their nasal passages, the primary suspicion would shift from histoplasmosis to mucormycosis, which requires immediate and aggressive surgical and medical intervention.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key term in the question stem, which is 'Darling's disease'.
Recognize that this is a factual recall question asking for the medical term associated with a specific eponym.
Evaluate each option provided.
Recall or deduce that histoplasmosis is the disease named after Samuel Darling.
Eliminate the other options as they are different fungal infections with distinct names and characteristics.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Eponyms in infectious diseases, specifically related to fungal infections.
Stem keywords: disease, darling's disease
Lead-in keywords: also known as
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 322-324

Practise the full DSSSB 14 August 2024

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