Question 1

Which of the following factors or conditions were responsible, in the first third of the 20th century, for the high incidence of infant and childhood mortality?

Accepted Answer

Infectious diseases were a major cause of infant and childhood mortality in the early 20th century due to limited medical treatments and poor sanitation.

Question 2

Which of the following phrases about infectious diseases is always true?

Accepted Answer

Infectious diseases are always caused by pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites in the body. This is the fundamental definition of what makes a disease "infectious."

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the reservoir, one of six factors in the chain of infection?

Accepted Answer

The reservoir in the context of the chain of infection refers to any living or nonliving habitat where pathogens can survive, potentially multiply, and from which they can be transmitted to a host. This includes humans, animals, and environmental locations such as soil and water, but not necessarily requiring multiplication in all cases.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes a vector?

Accepted Answer

Vectors are organisms, such as mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas, that transmit infectious pathogens between humans, or from animals to humans.

Question 5

The nurse working with a pediatrician in the doctor's office setting knows it is a top priority to properly clean all surfaces and toys touched by the children who come to the office, or make certain they have been properly cleaned, because of which of the following reasons?

Accepted Answer

Many organisms can survive on surfaces for extended periods, increasing the risk of transmission to other children.

Question 6

A child comes to see the pediatrician and breaks out the next day in the characteristic lesions of chickenpox. The nurse working in this pediatric clinic knows that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A child comes to see the pediatrician...

Question 7

The school nurse is working with teenaged parents and their babies in a high school program designed to keep these parents in school and to teach them how to care for their children. The nurse teaches the mothers to change diapers on:

Accepted Answer

The correct choice is a washable surface that is disinfected after each use. This ensures hygiene and prevents the spread of bacteria or infections, which is crucial in a setting involving infants and their health.

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the term vertical transmission?

Accepted Answer

Vertical transmission refers to the transmission of a disease or infection from a parent to its offspring, either during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Question 9

Infections that can be transmitted through vertical transmission are:

Accepted Answer

Rubella, herpes, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are known to be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, which is referred to as vertical transmission.

Question 10

Which of the following groups of children are susceptible to infections from staphylococci and Escherichia coli?

Accepted Answer

Newborns have immature immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections from bacteria like staphylococci and Escherichia coli.

Question 11

Caregivers could best reduce the number of infections that infants have by:

Accepted Answer

Frequent hand washing, avoiding kissing the infant's hands, and ensuring cleanliness of objects that the baby puts in their mouth are effective measures to reduce the transmission of infections to infants.

Question 12

You are a nurse working with toddlers and preschoolers. One of the children has a skin infection, which is diagnosed as tinea corporis. In assessing this condition, you would ask the caregivers which of the following questions?

Accepted Answer

Tinea corporis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection that can be transmitted from animals like cats and dogs to humans.

Question 13

You are a nurse working with children of various ages. You would teach the caregivers not to give acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) to children:

Accepted Answer

Aspirin is not recommended for children under 13 years due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can cause swelling in the liver and brain.

Question 14

The school nurse, on discovering any outbreaks of head lice, scabies, and pinforms, will teach the children to avoid:

Accepted Answer

The nurse will advise children to avoid sharing and swapping clothing and personal items to prevent the spread of lice, scabies, and pinworms, as these can be transmitted through direct contact with infested items.

Question 15

The leading cause of pneumonia for schoolchildren is which of the following organisms?

Accepted Answer

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the most common cause of pneumonia in school-aged children and young adults, often referred to as "walking pneumonia."

Question 16

Erythema infectiosum, or fifth disease, has which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Erythema infectiosum, also known as fifth disease, is characterized by a distinctive "slapped cheek" rash on the face, which is intensely red.

Question 17

You are a nurse working with adolescents and assessing them to see what immunizations they need. You would advise adolescents and their caregivers to have booster doses of tetanus and diphtheria approximately how many years after the last dose?

Accepted Answer

Adolescents and their caregivers are advised to have booster doses of tetanus and diphtheria approximately every 10 years after the last dose to maintain immunity.

Question 18

Adolescents most often lack which of the following types of immunity and need to be immunized because of the danger of acquiring this type of infection through sexual contact?

Accepted Answer

Hepatitis B is a virus that can be transmitted through sexual contact, and adolescents often lack immunity to it. Vaccination is recommended to prevent infection. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are bacterial infections and do not have vaccines available for them. Hepatitis A transmission is primarily through the fecal-oral route, not sexual contact.

Question 19

College-bound adolescents who will live in a dormitory or residence hall need to be advised most on the importance of vaccination against:

Accepted Answer

College-bound adolescents living in dormitories are at increased risk for meningococcal disease due to their close living conditions, making vaccination against this disease particularly important for this group.

Question 20

Adolescents who are addicted to crack cocaine are:

Accepted Answer

Adolescents addicted to crack cocaine are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, including having multiple partners, which increases their risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This is due to the lowered inhibitions and poor decision-making associated with substance abuse.

Quiz 15: Infectious Diseases