Environmental health: classification of water-related disease: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Environmental health: classification of water-related disease

Sample item

A drought-hit community has little water for hygiene and reports a rise in trachoma and scabies. Under the classification of water-related diseases, how are these conditions described, and what helps most?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Water-washed diseases, which fall when the quantity of water for hygiene increases

Water-washed diseases such as trachoma, scabies and skin and louse-borne infections are linked to scarcity of water for washing rather than to its quality. Increasing the quantity available for personal and domestic hygiene reduces them. Water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid are ingested in contaminated water.

Option by option

  • A. Water-related vector diseases, which fall with mosquito control

    Vector diseases such as malaria depend on insects that breed in water.

  • B. Water-based diseases, which fall when snail hosts are removed

    Water-based diseases such as schistosomiasis and guinea worm need an aquatic intermediate host.

  • C. Water-washed diseases, which fall when the quantity of water for hygiene increases (correct)

    Correct. Water-washed diseases respond to adequate water for hygiene.

  • D. Water-borne diseases, which fall only when water is boiled

    Water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid are transmitted by drinking contaminated water, not by poor washing.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Water-washed diseases, which fall when the quantity of water for hygiene increases. Water-washed diseases such as trachoma, scabies and skin and louse-borne infections are linked to scarcity of water for washing rather than to its quality.

Why is "Water-related vector diseases, which fall with mosquito control" not the answer?

Vector diseases such as malaria depend on insects that breed in water.

Why is "Water-based diseases, which fall when snail hosts are removed" not the answer?

Water-based diseases such as schistosomiasis and guinea worm need an aquatic intermediate host.

Why is "Water-borne diseases, which fall only when water is boiled" not the answer?

Water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid are transmitted by drinking contaminated water, not by poor washing.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Environmental health: classification of water-related disease in PSM. Increasing the quantity available for personal and domestic hygiene reduces them. Water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid are ingested in contaminated water.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Environmental health: classification of water-related disease?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.