Which of the following viral infection is transmitted by tick?

Appeared in: UPPSC 2023

Explanation

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by a flavivirus.
The primary mode of transmission to humans is through the bite of infected hard ticks, specifically of the genus Haemaphysalis.
The disease is endemic to parts of Karnataka, India, and is often called 'Monkey Fever' due to its association with monkey deaths, which act as sentinels for an outbreak.
Unlike the other options, which are transmitted by mosquitoes, KFD is the only tick-borne disease listed.

Option A: Japanese Encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease, not tick-borne.
Option C: Yellow Fever is transmitted by mosquitoes, not ticks.
Option D: Dengue Fever is a well-known mosquito-borne illness, transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Vector-borne diseases and their specific modes of transmission helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a crucial role in patient education regarding preventive measures against vector-borne diseases. For tick-borne illnesses like KFD, this includes advising protective clothing (long sleeves, pants), using tick repellents (like DEET), and performing regular tick checks after visiting forested areas.
Early recognition of symptoms (fever, headache, myalgia) in a patient with a history of travel to endemic forest areas is critical for prompt diagnosis and supportive management, especially monitoring for hemorrhagic complications.
What if? If a patient presented with fever and hemorrhagic signs but had no history of forest exposure and lived in a crowded urban area, the nurse's suspicion should shift towards mosquito-borne diseases like Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever instead of KFD.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'viral infection' and 'transmitted by tick'. The crucial element is the vector 'tick'.
Next, review the options provided: Japanese Encephalitis, Kyasanur Forest Disease, Yellow Fever, and Dengue Fever.
Access your knowledge of common infectious diseases and their vectors. Mentally categorize each disease based on its mode of transmission.
Recall or deduce that Dengue, Yellow Fever, and Japanese Encephalitis are all well-known mosquito-borne illnesses.
By elimination, or by direct knowledge, identify Kyasanur Forest Disease as the one transmitted by ticks.
Confirm your choice. KFD, also known as Monkey Fever, is a classic example of a tick-borne viral disease found in India.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) pp. 151-153, 147-149

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 2079-2081

Practise the full UPPSC 2023

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