Question

All of the following are part of National screening programmes EXCEPT:

• A. Diabetes mellitus
• B. Dental caries
• C. Refractive errors
• D. Carcinoma cervix

Hint:

One of these is handled by health education and treatment, not by organised mass screening.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: National screening programmes target conditions that are common, have a recognisable latent stage, an acceptable test and an available treatment that improves outcome.
Step 2: Diabetes mellitus is screened under the national non-communicable disease programme (NPCDCS), so option A is part of screening.
Step 3: Refractive errors are screened in schoolchildren under the school health and blindness control programmes, so option C is part of screening.
Step 4: Carcinoma cervix is screened under the national NCD programme along with breast and oral cancers, so option D is part of screening.
Step 5: Dental caries does not have an organised national screening programme of its own; dental health is addressed through health education and treatment, not mass screening. So option B is the exception.
Conclusion: Dental caries is the answer. The printed answer key (B. Dental caries) is correct.