Health and Hygiene
What this domain tests
Health and Hygiene tests personal and community hygiene, safe water, nutrition, common communicable diseases and basic public-health action. Questions often use a household or school scenario.
Core rules
- Personal hygiene: regular bathing, handwashing with soap before eating and after toilet use, oral care, clean nails and clothing.
- Safe water: boiling, chlorination or filtration; store water in a covered container; avoid open defecation.
- Balanced diet: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water in appropriate proportions; avoid excess sugar, salt and ultra-processed food.
- Communicable diseases spread by air, water, food, vectors and contact. Non-communicable diseases include diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
- Vector control: remove stagnant water to reduce mosquito breeding; use nets and repellents.
- Vaccination prevents diseases such as measles, polio and tetanus; follow the national immunisation schedule.
- Diarrhoea: oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc are first-line for dehydration prevention; continue feeding.
Worked example
A child has watery diarrhoea but is alert and drinking. Reasoning: the main danger is dehydration. Give ORS after each loose stool, give zinc as advised, continue food and breastfeeding, and seek care if there is blood, persistent vomiting, sunken eyes or reduced urine. Antibiotics are not routine for simple watery diarrhoea.
Traps
Do not treat ORS as a medicine that stops diarrhoea; it replaces fluid and salts. Do not give antibiotics for viral illnesses. Do not assume 'hygiene' means only personal cleanliness - sanitation and safe water matter.