The 'iceberg phenomenon' of disease refers to:
- A The large burden of subclinical, undiagnosed and latent cases hidden below the level of clinical detection ✓
- B The seasonal clustering of epidemics during winter months
- C The concentration of disease in coastal populations
- D The progressive rise in disease severity with advancing age
Correct answer: A. The large burden of subclinical, undiagnosed and latent cases hidden below the level of clinical detection
Explanation
The iceberg concept states that clinically apparent disease is only the visible tip; beneath it lie subclinical cases, undiagnosed carriers and latent infection that escape routine notification. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are classic examples because most affected persons remain unaware of their diagnosis. Control programmes based only on reported clinical cases therefore underestimate the true magnitude of disease in the community.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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