Essay Questions

Infectious Diseases
1. (a) Describe the causes, transmission and
symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB). [6m]

(b) Explain the Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.

[2m]

(c) Explain how Dengue can be treated and

prevented. [7m]
a) Causes
• By bacteria, Myobacterium tuberculosis (M. Tuberculosis)/ M. Bovis.
• The bacteria is taken up by alveolar macrophage which cannot
digest the pathogen.
• The bacteria multiply inside the macrophage, forming small nodular
growths (tubercles) in the lung tissue.
• This forms tissue death and forms cavities in the lungs.

Transmission
• Mostly transmitted by droplet infection, which requires prolonged
contact with an infected people
• This increased risk in overcrowded housing condition with poor
ventilation

Symptoms
• Persistent cough that sputum mixed with blood when the patient
cough up
• Excess sweating especially at night
• Shortness of breath, wheezing and chest pain
• Fever and suppresses the appetite that lead to weight loss.
(b)
• Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF)
occurs when the dengue virus re-infects
a person who previously has experienced
dengue fever.
• Resulting in the previously infected
immune system over reacting.
• May lead to death
(c)
• Mosquito eradication by:
• adding Abate (larvicide) into water containers as mosquito lay eggs
in stagnant clear water
• biological control that introducing larvae-eating fish in ponds
• fogging with insecticides in dengue stricken areas.
• Eliminate the habitat of mosquito

Prevent from being bitten by mosquito:

• Fitting insect screen at windows
• Use insecticides/use mosquito nets for beds
• Apply mosquito repellants on exposed skin when outdoors
• Avoid being outdoors in the early morning and before sunset as the
• Aedes mosquitoes are very active at these times
• Wear clothes that cover the whole body when outdoors
• Avoid wearing black/dark coloured outfits when outdoors
• Educate and create awareness of the public towards the danger and
method of prevention of dengue
• Use of genetically modified/sterile male Aedes mosquitoes (that
cause larval death in the early stages of its development)
• 2. a) Describe the cause and symptoms of
denggue . (4 marks)

• b) explain the transmission of dengue .

(5 marks)

• c) discuss the roles of social , economical and

• biological factors in the prevention of
• dengue (6 marks)
 i. causes of dengue:
• dengue fever & dengue Haemorrhagic
fever are caused by the dengue fever virus
(DENV) which is an RNA virus of the
family Flaviviridae.
• There are 4 different but related strains of
the virus called DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-
3 and DENV-4 serotypes.
• These are arboviruses (they are
transmitted by arthropods, especially
mosquitoes or ticks)
ii. symptoms of dengue fever:

• About 4 days after being infected, there is a sudden of

high fever (104°F- 105°F)
• A flat red rash appears 2 to 5 days later which may cover
the entire body except the face.
• Patient suffer headaches with severe pain behind the
eyes.
• Another common symptom is joint and muscle ache
which is why dengue is also called 'breakbone fever'
• Other symptoms are swollen lymph nodes, nausea and
vomiting
b) Explain the transmission of dengue.

• Dengue is transmitted by female mosquitoes of the genus Aedes.

• Aedes aegypli is the most common vector, though A. albopictus, A.
polynesiaensis and A. scultellaris are also known to transmit the
disease. When the female mosquito sucks the blood of an ingested
human, the virus is ingested into its gut and then moves to the
salivary glands. The mosquito can then transmit DENV for the rest
of its life. The life span of the mosquito is typically about one month.
• When the vector bites an uninfected person, some saliva (which
contains DENV) is injected into the human as well.
• Dengue fever is less commonly transmitted via the use of infected
blood
• products in transfusion or during organ transplantation.
• There are cases of vertical transmission, that is, an infected
pregnant
• woman can transmit the virus to the foetus in utero (through the
• placenta)
• C) Discuss:

• i) Roles of social, economical in the prevention of dengue.

• People can also prevent being bitten by mosquitoes by:
• - using loose clothing that covers the whole body
• - fitting insect screens on windows and doors
• - using insecticide-treated mosquito nets for beds
• - lighting mosquito coils or using electric vapour mats
• - applying mosquito repellent on exposed skin when outdoors.

• Ii) Roles of biological factors in the prevention of dengue:

• - Adding larvicide( Abate) to water containers and man-made ponds
as Aedes lay eggs in stagnant clear water.
• - Biological control- by introduction of larvae-eating fish in ponds
• - Fogging with insecticides in dengue-stricken areas