Unit 4.2 covers general information on health, food and nutrition. The most-asked questions are “deficiency of which vitamin causes…” and “which organism causes…”. Body systems are covered in Human Body and Health.
1. Nutrients and a balanced diet
| Nutrient | Main work | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | Give energy | Rice, wheat, maize, potato |
| Proteins | Body building and repair | Pulses, milk, eggs, meat, fish |
| Fats | Stored energy, warmth | Ghee, oil, butter, nuts |
| Vitamins | Protect from disease, help body work | Fruits, vegetables, milk |
| Minerals | Bones, blood, nerves | Milk (calcium), green vegetables (iron), iodised salt (iodine) |
| Water and fibre | Digestion and body temperature | Water, fruits, whole grains |
A balanced diet contains all nutrients in the right amount. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble; vitamins B and C are water-soluble.
2. Deficiency diseases
| Lack of | Disease |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Night blindness |
| Vitamin B1 (thiamine) | Beriberi |
| Vitamin C | Scurvy (bleeding gums) |
| Vitamin D | Rickets in children (soft bones) |
| Vitamin K | Delay in blood clotting |
| Iron | Anaemia |
| Iodine | Goitre |
| Protein | Kwashiorkor (swollen belly); protein and energy together: marasmus |
3. Communicable diseases
| Disease | Caused by | Spread by |
|---|---|---|
| Tuberculosis (TB) | Bacteria | Air (coughing) |
| Typhoid, cholera | Bacteria | Contaminated food and water |
| Malaria | Plasmodium (protozoa) | Female Anopheles mosquito |
| Dengue | Virus | Aedes mosquito |
| Kala-azar | Leishmania (protozoa) | Sandfly |
| HIV/AIDS | Virus (HIV) | Unsafe sex, infected blood, mother to child |
| COVID-19 | Virus (SARS-CoV-2) | Droplets and air |
Diarrhoea is treated first with ORS (oral rehydration solution) and zinc. Hand washing with soap and safe drinking water prevent many diseases.
4. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
- Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, stroke and chronic lung disease (COPD).
- Main risk factors: tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet (too much salt, sugar and fat), lack of exercise and air pollution.
- NCDs are now the leading cause of death in Nepal.
5. Public health in Nepal
- The National Immunisation Programme gives free vaccines to children against diseases such as TB (BCG), polio, measles–rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, pneumonia and rotavirus.
- Babies should get only breast milk for the first 6 months.
- The Health Insurance Board runs the national health insurance programme.
- World Health Day is 7 April; World No Tobacco Day is 31 May; World AIDS Day is 1 December.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9 is normal.
6. Deficiency diseases at a glance
| Deficiency | Disease | Main food sources |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Night blindness | Carrots, green leafy vegetables, milk, eggs |
| Vitamin B1 (thiamine) | Beriberi | Whole grains, pulses |
| Vitamin C | Scurvy (bleeding gums) | Citrus fruits, amla, guava |
| Vitamin D | Rickets in children | Sunlight, eggs, fish |
| Iron | Anaemia | Green vegetables, meat, pulses |
| Iodine | Goitre | Iodised salt |
| Protein and energy | Kwashiorkor and marasmus | Pulses, milk, eggs, cereals |
7. Public health programmes in Nepal
- National Immunisation Programme gives free vaccines such as BCG (tuberculosis), polio, measles–rubella and pentavalent.
- Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) bring basic health services to villages.
- Free basic health services are provided at health posts under the Public Health Service Act, 2075.
- The Health Insurance Board runs a family health insurance scheme.
- Nepal was declared open-defecation free in 2019 and works towards safe water and sanitation (SDG 6).
8. How this topic is asked in the exam
Objective questions ask which deficiency causes which disease, which vaccine protects against which illness, and the difference between communicable and non-communicable diseases. Subjective questions ask about the public health situation of Nepal or the role of FCHVs. Use the tables and give Nepal-specific examples.
📌 Key points to remember
- Vitamin A → night blindness; B1 → beriberi; C → scurvy; D → rickets; K → slow clotting.
- Iron → anaemia; iodine → goitre; protein → kwashiorkor.
- Malaria: Plasmodium via female Anopheles; dengue: virus via Aedes.
- TB, typhoid and cholera are bacterial; HIV, dengue and COVID-19 are viral.
- A, D, E, K are fat-soluble vitamins.
- ORS for diarrhoea; exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months; World Health Day 7 April.
Test yourself: Public Health, Food and Nutrition
50 questions check what you read about Nutrients and a balanced diet, Communicable diseases and Public health in Nepal. Each attempt picks 25 at random.