Which of the following is a communicable disease?

Appeared in: RML PRE 2025

Explanation

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
It is classified as a communicable disease because it can be transmitted from an infected person to others.
The primary mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Option A: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels. It is not caused by an infectious agent and cannot be spread from person to person.
Option C: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic cardiovascular condition. It is a non-communicable disease influenced by genetics, diet, and lifestyle, not by a pathogen.
Option D: Kwashiorkor is a form of severe malnutrition caused by a dietary deficiency of protein. It is a nutritional disorder, not an infectious or communicable disease.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Differentiating between communicable and non-communicable diseases helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the difference between communicable and non-communicable diseases is fundamental for nurses to implement appropriate care, including infection control measures (for communicable diseases) and patient education on lifestyle modification (for non-communicable diseases).
Nurses play a key role in public health by promoting vaccination schedules, such as the DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) vaccine, which protects against this preventable communicable disease.
What if? If a child presents with a sore throat, low-grade fever, and a grayish membrane on the tonsils, a nurse should immediately suspect Diphtheria, initiate droplet precautions to prevent transmission, and notify the physician for urgent intervention, as this is a medical emergency.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'communicable disease'.
Define 'communicable disease' as an illness that can be spread from one person to another, typically caused by a pathogen like a bacterium or virus.
Systematically evaluate each option against this definition.
Analyze Option A (Diabetes): This is a metabolic condition, not infectious. Eliminate.
Analyze Option B (Diphtheria): This is a known bacterial infection spread by droplets. This fits the definition.
Analyze Option C (Hypertension): This is a cardiovascular condition related to lifestyle and genetics, not infectious. Eliminate.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Differentiating between communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Stem keywords: communicable disease
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Text Book Of Pediatric Nursing 3rd Panchali Pal — Part 3 (pp 477-702 of 713) p. 66-68

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-275 of 550) p. 22-24

Practise the full RML PRE 2025

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