Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

Which among the following is an example of a multifactorial disorder?

1. Measles

2. Hepatitis B

3. Eczema

4. Type I diabetes

The correct answer is: Type I diabetes

The example of a multifactorial disorder is Type I diabetes. Multifactorial disorders are those that arise from the interplay of multiple genetic factors and environmental influences. In Type I diabetes, genetic predisposition plays a significant role, as certain genes have been associated with an increased risk of developing the disease. However, environmental triggers such as viral infections or dietary factors can also contribute to the onset of the illness. This combination of genetic susceptibility and various environmental factors classifies Type I diabetes as multifactorial. In contrast, disorders like measles and hepatitis B are caused by specific infectious agents—measles virus and hepatitis B virus, respectively—making them primarily infectious diseases rather than multifactorial disorders. Eczema, while it can have genetic components, is often categorized more as a complex trait influenced by environmental factors but not to the same extent as Type I diabetes, which has a more defined interaction between multiple genetic and environmental elements.