Health and Hygiene

Personal hygiene, common diseases and preventive practices.

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5 real TN TET questions with instant answers — no signup, ~3 minutes.

Health and Hygiene

Overview

Health and Hygiene is a foundational topic in Environmental Studies (EVS) for Paper I of TN TET, targeting teachers who will work with children aged 6-11 years. This topic directly connects to the daily lives of young learners and forms a critical component of life-skills education at the primary level.

For the TET exam, expect questions that test your understanding of basic hygiene practices, common childhood diseases, their prevention, and most importantly, how to teach these concepts effectively to young children. The pedagogy aspect is crucial—examiners want to see that you can translate health knowledge into age-appropriate classroom activities and real-life applications.

This topic frequently overlaps with "Food" and "Water" sections, so understanding the connections between nutrition, safe water, and disease prevention gives you an integrated perspective that TET questions often demand.

Key Concepts

**Personal hygiene** refers to daily practices that maintain cleanliness and prevent disease—bathing, handwashing, dental care, nail trimming, and wearing clean clothes. These are habit-forming behaviours best taught early.

**Health is not merely the absence of disease** but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (WHO definition). Primary teachers must address all three dimensions.

**Communicable diseases** spread from person to person through air, water, food, or contact. **Non-communicable diseases** (like diabetes, asthma) do not spread but are influenced by lifestyle and environment.

**Vectors** are organisms that carry disease-causing germs from one host to another—mosquitoes (malaria, dengue), houseflies (cholera, typhoid), and rats (plague).

**Immunisation** is the process of protecting children against specific diseases through vaccines. India's Universal Immunisation Programme covers diseases like polio, measles, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and tetanus.

**Safe drinking water** means water free from germs and harmful chemicals. Boiling, filtering, and chlorination are common purification methods at the household level.

**Balanced diet** provides all nutrients in correct proportions. Malnutrition (both undernutrition and overnutrition) weakens immunity and invites disease.

**School Health Programme** includes medical check-ups, mid-day meals, health education, and a clean school environment—all aimed at promoting child health.

Key Facts

| Category | Must-Remember Points | |----------|---------------------| | Handwashing | Wash with soap for at least 20 seconds; critical times—before eating, after toilet, after playing | | Dental hygiene | Brush twice daily, avoid excess sugar, visit dentist every 6 months | | Water-borne diseases | Cholera, typhoid, jaundice (Hepatitis A), dysentery—caused by contaminated water/food | | Air-borne diseases | Common cold, influenza, tuberculosis, measles, COVID-19—spread through droplets | | Vector-borne diseases | Malaria and dengue (mosquito), plague (rat flea), filariasis (mosquito) | | Deficiency diseases | Night blindness (Vitamin A), scurvy (Vitamin C), rickets (Vitamin D), anaemia (iron) | | ORS composition | Oral Rehydration Solution—salt, sugar, and clean water; used for diarrhoea treatment | | National Health Mission | India's flagship programme for rural and urban health, includes maternal-child health |

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Q1 · Health and Hygiene · EASY
Ravi noticed that his younger brother often falls sick with diarrhoea during the rainy season. Which of the following practices would MOST effectively help prevent diarrhoea?
Q2 · Health and Hygiene · MEDIUM
A teacher is explaining to Class 4 students about diseases spread by mosquitoes. Which TWO of the following diseases are caused by mosquito bites? 1. Malaria 2. Tuberculosis 3. Dengue 4. Chickenpox
Q3 · Health and Hygiene · MEDIUM
During a health awareness programme in a village school, the teacher demonstrates the correct method of brushing teeth. She tells students to brush their teeth twice daily — morning and before sleeping. What is the PRIMARY reason for brushing teeth before sleeping at night?
Q4 · Health and Hygiene · MEDIUM
A school conducts a health check-up and finds that many students have anaemia (low haemoglobin in blood). The doctor advises students to eat iron-rich food. Which of the following food items is RICHEST in iron and should be included regularly in the diet?
Q5 · Health and Hygiene · HARD
A teacher wants to explain to students how diseases like tuberculosis (TB) spread and how they can be prevented. Consider the following statements about TB: 1. TB spreads through air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 2. TB can be prevented by covering the mouth while coughing and ensuring good ventilation in rooms. 3. TB spreads through sharing food and water with an infected person. 4. BCG vaccine given to infants provides protection against severe forms of TB. Which of the above statements are CORRECT?

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Notes generated on 27 Jun 2026

Health and Hygiene

Health and Hygiene

Overview

Key Concepts

Key Facts

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