The Kala-azar fever is transmitted through the bite of?

Appeared in: Tripura CHO - 2021

Explanation

Kala-azar, also known as visceral leishmaniasis, is a protozoal disease caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani.
The disease is transmitted to humans exclusively through the bite of an infected female phlebotomine sandfly.
In India, the specific vector responsible for transmission is Phlebotomus argentipes.
The sandfly becomes infected by taking a blood meal from an infected human and then transmits the parasite to another human during a subsequent blood meal.

Option A: The housefly is a mechanical vector, not a biological one for Kala-azar. It spreads diseases by carrying pathogens on its body and legs from feces to food.
Option B: The Tsetse fly is the vector for a different protozoal disease, African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness.
Option D: Dragonflies are not vectors for any human diseases. They are predatory insects that are actually beneficial to humans as they eat other insects, including mosquitoes.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vector-borne disease transmission as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in identifying potential cases of Kala-azar by recognizing the classic triad of prolonged fever (more than 2 weeks), significant weight loss, and massive splenomegaly, especially in patients from endemic areas.
Patient education is a critical nursing intervention, focusing on personal protection measures like using insecticide-treated nets, wearing protective clothing, and applying insect repellent to prevent sandfly bites, particularly during their peak activity at night.
What if? If a patient presents with fever and splenomegaly but has a recent travel history to sub-Saharan Africa instead of India, the nurse should consider differential diagnoses like malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) in addition to leishmaniasis.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword in the question, which is 'Kala-azar fever'.
The question asks for the mode of transmission, specifically the insect vector responsible for the bite.
This is a factual recall question based on knowledge of community health nursing and vector-borne diseases.
Systematically evaluate each option:
Housefly: Recall that it's a mechanical vector for fecal-oral diseases.
Tsetse fly: Link this to African sleeping sickness.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 169-171

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 302-304

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 279-281

Practise the full Tripura CHO - 2021

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