Why Do We Fall Ill MCQs

Q1. Which one of the following is correctly described as a 'non-infectious lifestyle disease'?

• A.Type-2 diabetes mellitus linked to obesity and inactivity
• B.Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• C.AIDS caused by HIV
• D.Cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae

Answer: A. Type-2 diabetes mellitus linked to obesity and inactivity

Which principle settles this? Type-2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder strongly linked to obesity, inactivity and unhealthy diet - a classic non-infectious lifestyle disease. TB, AIDS and cholera are all caused by pathogens and are infectious. Therefore option (a) is correct. Pick: A) Type-2 diabetes mellitus linked to obesity and inactivity.

Q2. Which of the following correctly characterises a chronic disease?

• A.Long duration with cumulative damage to long-term health
• B.Sudden onset, lasts only a few days and rarely affects long-term health
• C.Always caused by an infectious agent transmissible between people
• D.Always treatable with antibiotics regardless of cause

Answer: A. Long duration with cumulative damage to long-term health

To see why, recall that Chronic diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes and elephantiasis last for months to years and cause persistent loss of weight, energy and overall well-being. Sudden onset/short duration describes acute disease. Chronic diseases can be either infectious (TB) or non-infectious (diabetes), and antibiotics are useful only in selected bacterial cases. Hence option (a). Hence the answer is A) Long duration with cumulative damage to long-term health.

Q3. Which of the following correctly orders the three principles of disease prevention from most to least general?

• A.Public hygiene → personal hygiene → specific immunisation
• B.Specific immunisation → public hygiene → personal hygiene
• C.Personal hygiene → specific immunisation → public hygiene
• D.Public hygiene → specific immunisation → personal hygiene

Answer: A. Public hygiene → personal hygiene → specific immunisation

What's the underlying rule? Clean surroundings, safe water and sanitation (public hygiene) protect against many diseases at once and are the broadest measures. Personal hygiene (handwashing, clean food) is more individual but still general. Vaccination is the most specific, conferring resistance to a single pathogen. Hence the order of decreasing generality is public hygiene → personal hygiene → specific immunisation. Pick: A) Public hygiene → personal hygiene → specific immunisation.