This set of Immunology Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Fungal Infections”.
1. Histoplasmosis and Blastomycosis Fungal Infections most commonly occur in which country?
a) India
b) United Sates
c) United Kingdom
d) Sri Lanka
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Explanation: Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by the fungus Histoplasma. This fungus lives in soil which also contains of bird and bat droppings. Histoplasma often enters through inhalation resulting in damaging the lungs. On the other hand, Blastomycosis is caused by airborne spores from contaminated soil. This also causes infection to the lungs. Both these fungal infections are often seen to occur in eastern part of United States.
2. Fungi need sunlight for their growth.
a) True
b) False
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Explanation: Fungi cannot make their food from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide as plants do. They can easily grow in dark. This is because plants have photosynthetic pigments due to which they carry out photosynthetic processes whereas fungi lack presence of photosynthetic pigments. Hence it is easy for them to grow without sunlight. Like animals, fungi are dependent on other sources for food. They grow best in warm moist places. They can even grow on vegetables, bread, meat, wood, leather, etc.
3. Which of the following is a scientific name for fungal nail infection?
a) Onychomycosis
b) Aspergillosis
c) Blastomycosis
d) Candidiasis
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Explanation: Fungal nail infection is known as Onychomycosis scientifically. It is known to infect nails of fingers and toes. The most common symptoms are decolouration of nails and breakage of nails. The main cause of this infection is fungus hence it is known as fungal nail infection.
4. Which of the following fungi causes infection of vagina?
a) Zygomycota
b) Molds
c) Eumycota
d) Candida
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Explanation: Candida causes infection in the vagina called as Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. It normally lives in mouth, gut vagina or on skin. Candida grows and multiplies to cause changes in the vagina. This causes itching and pain in vagina and also leaves abnormal discharge. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a common infection but it can get severe if not treated on time. This infection can occur in women having weak immune system, diabetes or who are consuming hormonal contraceptives.
5. Which of the following is NOT an example of fungal infection?
a) Athlete’s foot
b) Ringworm
c) Vaginal yeast infection
d) Gonorrhoea
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Explanation: Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is passed from person-to-person during unsafe intercourse. This can further result in causing STD. On the other hand, athlete’s foot, ringworm and vaginal yeast infection are types of fungal infection caused by dermatophytes and yeast.
6. Which of the following is the smallest fungi?
a) Armillaria solidipes
b) Chytrids
c) Aspergillus
d) Basidiomycetes
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Explanation: Chytrids is the smallest fungi. It consists of mitochondria that has flat cristae. It also possesses cell walls and uniflagellate spores. The cell wall is composed of chitin as well as glucan. Chytrids is commonly found in water and it has an organic-rich habitat. Chytrids are one of the most unique fungi as they have motile stages in their life cycle.
7. Which of the following fungal infection causes circular rashes?
a) Ringworm
b) Coccidioidomycosis
c) Jock itch
d) Histoplasmosis
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Explanation: Ringworm, the name itself suggests that it causes circular rashes. These rashes are shaped like a ring which usually occurs red and itches a lot. Ringworm is specifically a fungal skin infection as it usually occurs on the skin surfaces. The most common symptoms of ringworm are itchy skin, redness in the itchy portion of skin, hair loss. Cracked screen, etc.
8. Most people living in area where there is presence of fungus Paracoccidioides can get infected by which infection?
a) Coccidioidomycosis
b) Paracoccidioides
c) Histoplasmosis
d) Aspergillosis
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Explanation: Paracoccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides. This infection usually affects the skin and lungs. Normally there are no symptoms if the infection is mild but if it gets severe then the symptoms seen are cough, fever, weight loss, enlarged liver and spleen, etc. This infection acts differently in different groups of people: in adults, it usually affects lungs and causes lesions in mouth or throat. In children, it affects the lymph nodes as they swell in size.
9. Which of the following is NOT a symptom of Athlete’s foot?
a) Itchy feet
b) Scaling and flaking of skin of feet
c) Fever
d) Redness near the infected portion of skin
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Explanation: Athlete’s foot is a type of skin fungal infection. It is a type of ringworm infection. By the name, it suggests that it occurs near feet. The most common symptoms are itchy feet, dryness and flaky skin of feet and redness near the feet. This infection usually occurs between the toes. It is usually self-diagnosable but if it gets severe, it might need immediate medications.
10. What is the fungal infection that occurs in mouth called?
a) Oral thrush
b) Tinea capitis
c) Groin
d) Tinea pedis
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Explanation: Fungal infection caused in mouth is termed as oral thrush. It is also referred to as oral candidiasis as it is caused by fungus Candida. Normally, small amounts of this fungus can live in the mouth but if it multiplies and overgrows, it can cause severe infection. It causes lesions or sores and even causes bleeding of gums. Immediate attention must be given if there is pain during swallowing food or fluids.
11. Which antifungal drug is used for blastomycosis?
a) Miconazole
b) Terbinafine
c) Fluconazole
d) Ketoconazole
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Explanation: Fluconazole is an antifungal medicine used to treat a number of fungal infections like candidiasis, blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, dermatophytosis as well as coccidioidomycosis. If the infections are mild, this medication shows effects in one to three days. It acts against Blastomyces dermatitidis in case of blastomycosis. It is also used to treat various other vaginal infections caused by candida.
12. Which type of ringworm infection is caused in scalp (categorised by location on body)?
a) Tinea pedis
b) Tinea capitis
c) Tinea cruris
d) tinea barbae
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Explanation: Ringworm that occurs in scalp is termed as Tinea capitis. This causes itchy, red scalp which may lead to irritation. It can cause a bald spot by time if not treated (which means, hair loss is one of the symptoms). The bald spot can grow in size if infection spreads throughout the scalp. This is more common in children. If this infection is not treated well, it can further cause other infections like kerion. Kerion is a type of ringworm which causes lesions.
13. Which of the following is NOT a type of fungi that cause Mucor mycosis?
a) Rhizopus
b) Mucor
c) Syncephalastrum
d) Aspergillus
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Explanation: Fungi groups that cause Mucor mycosis are termed as mucoromycetes. Some examples of this infection are Rhizopus, Mucor, Syncephalastrum, Apophysomyces, Rhizomucor, etc. Mucor mycosis occurs in people who consume excessive amounts of medications that lower the body’s immune system to fight against infections, disorders or sickness. The most common symptoms of mucor mycosis are headache and sinus.
14. Which of the following is known as Valley Fever?
a) Coccidioidomycosis
b) Histoplasmosis
c) Blastomycosis
d) Paracoccidioides
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Explanation: Coccidioidomycosis is also known as valley fever. It is an infection caused by fungus named Coccidioides. This fungus is usually found in contaminated soil or dust. They might show their presence in dark shaded areas. They usually circulate in air after contaminated soil and dust are disturbed by humans, animals or weather. As a result of this disturbance, the fungal spores may be inhaled by humans leading their way to the lungs. If this fungus lives inside the lung, it might start multiplying and growing which results in spread of infection throughout the lungs. This causes cough, fever, shortness in breath as well as tiredness. In very rare cases, the fungal spores can enter the skin through cuts or wounds and can further lead to cause skin infection. Hence, due to its complexity the infection caused by Coccidioides is termed as valley fever.
15. Cutaneous and Rhino cerebral Mucor mycosis occurs in which part of the body?
a) Brain/sinus and skin respectively
b) Skin and brain/sinus respectively
c) Lungs and skin respectively
d) Lungs and intestine respectively
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Explanation: Cutaneous and Rhino cerebral Mucor mycosis are the types of Mucor mycosis fungal infection caused by mucor. Mucor mycosis is categorized on the basis of where it occurs. Cutaneous mucor mycosis is the fungal infection that occurs on skin. It causes blisters or ulcers. The infected area usually turns black by causing pain and swelling sometimes. On the other hand, Rhino cerebral mucor mycosis is caused in the brain and sinus. It affects the brain in serious cases but in mild phase, it may cause fever, lesions on nasal bridge or sinus congestion.
Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Immunology.
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