Image Based Question – 67340

All of the following disease show this type of phenomenon except:

A. Influenza

B. Polio

C. Hepatitis

D. Chicken Pox

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Correct Answer » D Explanation

Ans:D. Chicken Pox.

Iceberg Phenomenon is shown in the image.

Iceberg of disease

• Disease in a community may be compared with an iceberg.

• The floating tip of the iceberg represents what the physian sees in the community, i.e. clinical cases (Diagnosed case, symptomatic case or clinically apparent case).

• The vast submerged portion of the iceberg represents the hidden mass of disease, i.e. latent, inapparent, presymptomatic and undiagnosed cases and carriers in the community.

• The “waterline” represents the demarcation between apparent and inapparent disease.

• Epidemiologist is concerned with Hidden portion of iceberg whereas clinician is concerned with tip of iceberg.

• Screening is done for Hidden portion of iceberg whereas diagnosis is done for tip of iceberg.

• Iceberg phenomenon of disease is not shown by rabies, tetanus and measles.

• The clinician concerned only with the tip of iceberg, i.e symptomatic cases that are seen in clinical treatment, this can result in inaccurate view of the nature and causes of a disease results because the minority of the cases are studied (hidden cases :- submerged portion of ice berg is not studied) -3 Clinician’s Fallacy.

• iseases with a great deal of subclinical infection (therefore have iceberg phenomenon) are :-

• Rubella

• Polio

• Japanese encephalitis

• Influenza

• Mumps

• Hepatitis A and B

• Diphtheria