Which of the following is NOT transmitted by Aedes mosquito?

Appeared in: NIA - 29 January 2023

Explanation

Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium parasites.
It is transmitted to humans exclusively through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
The Aedes mosquito is the vector for several viral diseases, but it does not transmit the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria.

Option A: This is incorrect because Dengue fever is a classic example of a disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti.
Option B: This is incorrect because Yellow fever is another well-known viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes in its urban cycle.
Option C: This is incorrect because Chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vector-borne diseases and their specific mosquito vectors as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Identifying the correct mosquito vector is crucial for implementing effective public health control measures. For example, controlling Aedes involves managing domestic water storage, while controlling Anopheles often focuses on using insecticide-treated bed nets for night-time protection.
A patient's travel history and the time of day they were bitten can provide important clues for differential diagnosis between diseases like Dengue (day-biting Aedes) and Malaria (night-biting Anopheles).
What if? If a community reports a surge in fever cases with severe joint pain, public health efforts would immediately focus on Aedes control (e.g., fogging, eliminating breeding sites) to target Chikungunya/Dengue, rather than Anopheles control measures.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative keyword 'NOT' in the question. This signals that you are looking for the option that is an exception.
The core subject is diseases transmitted by the 'Aedes mosquito'.
Systematically evaluate each option based on your knowledge of entomology and infectious diseases.
Recall that Dengue, Yellow fever, and Chikungunya are all well-known viral diseases spread by Aedes mosquitoes.
Identify Malaria as the outlier. Recall that it is a parasitic disease transmitted by a different vector, the Anopheles mosquito.
Conclude that Malaria is the correct answer as it is the only disease on the list not transmitted by the Aedes mosquito.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QgIESE9YU1SV2P4MRjP7jk

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 152-154

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 2073-2075

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 241-243

Practise the full NIA - 29 January 2023

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