Which disease is caused by a parasitic infection and is transmitted through mosquito bites?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UP CNET BSc Nursing 2025 Sample Paper

Answer 1

Correct Answer: Malaria

Rationale:

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasitic infection, specifically by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The disease is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
When the mosquito bites a human, it injects the Plasmodium parasites into the bloodstream, where they travel to the liver, mature, and then infect red blood cells, leading to the symptoms of malaria.
Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting, and if left untreated, it can cause severe complications and even death.

Explanation of Other Options:

Measles

Rationale: Measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the measles virus. It is spread through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing, not through mosquito bites.
Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic red rash that usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

Tuberculosis

Rationale: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs and is spread through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms include a persistent cough, weight loss, fever, night sweats, and coughing up blood.

Cholera

Rationale: Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is typically spread through contaminated water and food, not mosquito bites.
Symptoms include severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps, which can lead to dehydration and shock if not treated promptly.

Conclusion:

Among the given options, malaria is the disease that is caused by a parasitic infection and transmitted through mosquito bites. It is important to differentiate it from other diseases like measles, tuberculosis, and cholera, which have different modes of transmission and causative agents.