Consider the following pairs: 1. Dengue | Caused by mosquito and spreads through blood 2. Typhoid | Caused by bacteria and spreads through water 3. Ringworm | Caused by fungus and spreads through worms How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Official answer key: A. The answer shown above (B) is the academy’s own.

Dengue

• Dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV), which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti.
• Symptoms: High fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and mild bleeding (such as nose or gum bleeding).
• Transmission: The Aedes mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, and the virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female mosquito. The virus replicates inside the mosquito and is passed to humans through saliva. Hence statement 1 is correct.

Typhoid

• Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. It primarily spreads through contaminated food and water. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Causative Agent: The bacterium Salmonella Typhi is responsible for typhoid fever. Another related bacterium, Salmonella Paratyphi, causes a similar but usually less severe illness called paratyphoid fever.
• Transmission: Typhoid is transmitted via the faecal-oral route. This means it spreads through ingestion of food or water contaminated with the faeces of an infected person.
• Poor sanitation and lack of access to clean water are major risk factors for the spread of typhoid.
• Symptoms: The symptoms of typhoid fever typically include prolonged fever, weakness, stomach pains, headache, and loss of appetite. Some patients may develop a rash.

Ringworm

• Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis or tinea, is a fungal infection that affects the skin, hair, or nails. Despite its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm but by a group of fungi called dermatophytes. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Causative Agents: The infection is caused by dermatophytes, a type of fungi.
• Transmission: Ringworm is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected person or animal, or by touching contaminated objects such as clothing, towels, or surfaces. It can also spread through soil.
• Symptoms: Symptoms vary depending on the site of infection but typically include red, itchy, circular rashes with clear skin in the middle. The rash may also have raised edges and can spread to other parts of the body if untreated. In cases affecting the scalp, it can cause hair loss and scaling.