Human Health and Diseases

1. The term 'Health' is defined in many ways. The most accurate definition of the health would be:

a. Health is the state of body and mind in a balanced condition

b. Health is the reflection of a smiling face

c. Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

d. Health is the symbol of economic prosperity.

Answer: c. Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

Explanation: Health includes physical fitness, mental stability and social well-being.

This definition was given by the World Health Organization (WHO).

2. The organisms which cause diseases in plants and animals are called:

a. Pathogens

b. Vectors

c. Insects

d. Worms

Answer: a. Pathogens

Explanation: Pathogens are disease-causing organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

They infect the host body and disturb normal body functions.

3. The clinical test that is used for diagnosis of typhoid is:

a. ELISA

b. ESR

c. PCR

d. Widal

Answer: d. Widal

Explanation: The Widal test detects antibodies against Salmonella typhi bacteria.

It is commonly used to confirm typhoid fever.

4. Diseases are broadly grouped into infectious and non-infectious diseases. In the list given below, identify the infectious diseases.

i. Cancer

ii. Influenza

iii. Allergy

iv. Small pox

(a) i and ii

(b) ii and iii

(c) iii and iv

(d) ii and iv

Answer: (d) ii and iv

Explanation: Influenza and smallpox are infectious diseases caused by viruses.

They spread from one person to another through infection.

5. The sporozoites that cause infection when a female Anopheles mosquito bites a person, are formed in:

a. liver of the person

b. RBCs of mosquito

c. salivary glands of mosquito

d. gut of mosquito

Answer: c. salivary glands of mosquito

Explanation: Sporozoites of Plasmodium are stored in the salivary glands of female Anopheles mosquito. They enter the human body during mosquito bite and cause malaria.

6. The disease chikunguniya is transmitted by:

a. house fly

b. Aedes mosquito

c. cockroach

d. female Anopheles

Answer: b. Aedes mosquito

Explanation: Chikungunya is a viral disease spread by Aedes mosquitoes.

The same mosquito also spreads dengue fever.

7. Many diseases can be diagnosed by observing the symptoms in the patient. Which group of symptoms are indicative of pneumonia?

a. Difficulty in respiration, fever, chills, cough, headache

b. Constipation, abdominal pain, cramps, blood clots

c. Nasal congestion and discharge, cough, constipation, headache

d. High fever, weakness, stomach pain, loss of appetite and constipation

Answer: a. Difficulty in respiration, fever, chills, cough, headache

Explanation: Pneumonia mainly affects the lungs and respiratory system.

Symptoms include breathing difficulty, fever, cough and chills.

8. Cancer causing genes are called:

a. structural genes

b. expressor genes

c. oncogenes

d. regulatory genes

Answer: c. oncogenes

Explanation: Oncogenes are mutated genes that can transform normal cells into cancer cells.

They promote uncontrolled cell division and tumor formation.

9. In malignant tumors, the cells proliferate, grow rapidly and move to other parts of the body to form new tumors. This stage of disease is called:

a. metagenesis

b. metastasis

c. teratogenesis

d. mitosis

Answer: b. metastasis

Explanation: Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from one organ to another.

It is a dangerous characteristic of malignant tumors.

10. When an apparently healthy person is diagnosed as unhealthy by a psychiatrist, the reason could be that:

a. the patient was not efficient at his work

b. the patient was not economically prosperous

c. the patient shows behavioural and social maladjustment

d. he does not take interest in sports

Answer: c. the patient shows behavioural and social maladjustment

Explanation: Mental health is an important part of overall health.

Behavioral and social maladjustments indicate psychological disorders.

11. Which of the following are the reason(s) for Rheumatoid arthritis? Choose the correct option.

i. The ability to differentiate pathogens or foreign molecules from self cells increases.

ii. Body attacks self cells

iii. More antibodies are produced in the body

iv. The ability to differentiate pathogens or foreign molecules from self cells is lost

(a) i and ii

(b) ii and iv

(c) iii and iv

(d) i and iii

Answer: (b) ii and iv

Explanation: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder.

The immune system loses the ability to recognize self cells and attacks body tissues.

12. AIDS is caused by HIV. Among the following, which one is not a mode of transmission of HIV?

a. Transfusion of contaminated blood

b. Sharing the infected needles

c. Shaking hands with infected persons

d. Sexual contact with infected persons

Answer: c. Shaking hands with infected persons

Explanation: HIV does not spread through casual contact like handshakes.

It spreads through infected blood, needles and sexual contact.

13. 'Smack' is a drug obtained from the:

a. latex of Papaver somniferum

b. leaves of Cannabis sativa

c. flowers of Dhatura

d. fruits of Erythroxyl coca

Answer: a. latex of Papaver somniferum

Explanation: Smack or heroin is obtained from the latex of opium poppy.

It is a highly addictive narcotic drug.

14. The substance produced by a cell in viral infection that can protect other cells from further infection is:

a. serotonin

b. colostrum

c. interferon

d. histamine

Answer: c. interferon

Explanation: Interferons are proteins released by virus-infected cells.

They protect neighboring cells from viral infection.

15. Transplantation of tissues/organs to save certain patients often fails due to rejection of such tissues/organs by the patient. Which type of immune response is responsible for such rejections?

a. auto-immune response

b. humoral immune response

c. physiological immune response

d. cell-mediated immune response

Answer: d. cell-mediated immune response

Explanation: Cell-mediated immunity involves T-lymphocytes attacking foreign tissues.

This response causes rejection of transplanted organs.

16. Antibodies present in colostrum which protect the new born from certain diseases is of

a. Ig G type

b. Ig A type

c. Ig D type

d. Ig E type

Answer: b. Ig A type

Explanation: Colostrum contains IgA antibodies that provide passive immunity to infants.

These antibodies protect newborns from infections.

17. Tobacco consumption is known to stimulate secretion of adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. The component causing this could be:

a. Nicotine

b. Tannic acid

c. Curamin

d. Catechin

Answer: a. Nicotine

Explanation: Nicotine is the addictive chemical present in tobacco.

It stimulates the nervous system and increases adrenaline secretion.

18. Antivenom against snake poison contains:

a. Antigens

b. Antigen-antibody complexes

c. Antibodies

d. Enzymes

Answers: c. Antibodies

Explanation: Antivenom contains antibodies against snake venom toxins.

These antibodies neutralize the poisonous effects of venom.

19. Which of the following is not a lymphoid tissue?

a. Spleen

b. Tonsils

c. Pancreas

d. Thymus

Answer: c. Pancreas

Explanation: The pancreas is a digestive and endocrine gland, not a lymphoid organ.

Spleen, tonsils and thymus are parts of the immune system.

20. Which of the following glands is large sized at birth but reduces in size with ageing?

a. Pineal

b. Pituitary

c. Thymus

d. Thyroid

Answer: c. Thymus

Explanation: The thymus gland is highly active during childhood.

It gradually shrinks with increasing age.

21. Haemozoin is a:

a. precursor of hemoglobin

b. toxin released from Streptococcus infected cells

c. toxin released from Plasmodium infected cells

d. toxin released from Haemophilus infected cells

Answer: c. toxin released from Plasmodium infected cells

Explanation: Haemozoin is a toxic pigment released during malaria infection.

It causes fever and chills in malaria patients.

22. Which of the following is not the causal organism for ringworm?

a. Microsporum

b. Trichophyton

c. Epidermophyton

d. Macrosporum

Answer: d. Macrosporum

Explanation: Ringworm is caused by fungi like Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton.

Macrosporum is not a causal organism of ringworm.

23. A person with sickle cell anemia is

a. more prone to malaria

b. more prone to typhoid

c. less prone to malaria

d. less prone to typhoid

Answer: c. less prone to malaria

Explanation: Sickle cell anemia provides resistance against malaria infection.

The Plasmodium parasite cannot survive easily in sickled RBCs.