Question

DOTS is the internationally recommended strategy to control

• A. AIDS
• B. Cancer
• C. Tuberculosis
• D. Pneumonia

Hint:

Finishing the full course of TB medication is critical. If a patient stops taking antibiotics early when they start feeling better, the surviving bacteria can mutate and develop resistance, leading to highly dangerous Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Deciphering the Acronym:
DOTS stands for Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course. It is the internationally recommended public health strategy formulated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to detect and cure tuberculosis (TB).

Step 2: Core Components of the DOTS Strategy:
DOTS is designed to ensure patients complete their full antibiotic treatment program and prevent the development of multi-drug-resistant TB strains (MDR-TB). Its core pillars include:

• Sustained Political and Financial Commitment: Securing funding for public health infrastructure.
• Quality-Assured Bacteriology: Utilizing reliable sputum smear microscopy to accurately diagnose active TB cases.
• Standardized Short-Course Chemotherapy: Providing the standard combination of anti-TB drugs (such as Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol).
• Direct Observation of Treatment: A trained healthcare worker or community volunteer directly observes the patient swallow every dose of medication to ensure compliance.
• Systematic Recording and Reporting: Tracking patient progress to monitor cure rates.

Step 3: Conclusion:
Since DOTS is the global gold standard strategy for managing TB, option (C) is the correct answer.