Diseases and Treatment

1. A disease that is present permanently in a region or population is kno

A disease that is present permanently in a region or population is known as

pandemic
epidemic
endemic
zoonotic
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2019-20
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A disease that is present permanently in a region or population is known as endemic.
In epidemiology, an endemic disease is one that is constantly maintained at a baseline level in a population within a geographical area without external inputs. This means the disease is regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.
An ‘epidemic’ refers to a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a population in a given area. A ‘pandemic’ is an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, affecting a large number of people. A ‘zoonotic’ disease is an infectious disease that has jumped from a non-human animal to humans.

2. Infectious diseases can spread through various means, such as air (sne

Infectious diseases can spread through various means, such as air (sneezes and coughs), water, food, insects and vectors. Which one of the following diseases does not have a vector ?

AIDS
Malaria
Dengue
Zika
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2022
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A vector in the context of infectious diseases is an organism, typically an arthropod like a mosquito or tick, that transmits a pathogen from one host to another.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. It is not transmitted through insect bites or other vectors.
Malaria is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. Zika is primarily transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, although it can also be transmitted sexually or from mother to fetus. These diseases rely on a vector organism for transmission. AIDS transmission pathways are sexual contact, parenteral (blood/needles), and mother-to-child (vertical transmission), none of which involve a vector organism in the typical sense.

3. Which one of the following is a disease for which India has not faced

Which one of the following is a disease for which India has not faced epidemic at any point of time in the past?

Cholera
Plague
Leukaemia
Swine flu
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2019
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Leukaemia is a type of cancer affecting blood cells and does not occur in epidemic form.
Epidemics refer to a widespread occurrence of an *infectious disease* in a community at a particular time. Cholera and Plague are historical infectious diseases that have caused major epidemics in India. Swine flu (H1N1) is a viral infectious disease that has also caused outbreaks in India.
While cancer rates can vary regionally or over time, it is not an infectious disease and does not spread from person to person in a way that causes epidemics. The term “epidemic” is specific to infectious diseases.

4. According to the National Trachoma Survey Report (2014 – 17), India is

According to the National Trachoma Survey Report (2014 – 17), India is now free from infective trachoma. Trachoma is a chronic infective disease of

Nose
Heart
Ear
Eye
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2018
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Trachoma is a chronic infective disease of the eye. The National Trachoma Survey Report (2014–17) declaring India free from infective trachoma refers specifically to this eye disease.
– Trachoma is caused by the bacterium *Chlamydia trachomatis*.
– It affects the eyes and is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness.
– The infection causes scarring of the inside of the eyelid, which can lead to eyelashes turning inwards (trichiasis) and rubbing against the cornea, eventually causing irreversible blindness.
The declaration of India being free from infective trachoma is a significant public health achievement, a result of long-term efforts under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment, focusing on the WHO’s SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, Environmental improvement).

5. ‘Wolbachia method’ is sometimes talked about with reference to which o

‘Wolbachia method’ is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following?

Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes
Converting crop residues into packing material
Producing biodegradable plastics
Producing biochar from thermo-chemical conversion of biomass
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2023
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The correct answer is A) Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes.
The Wolbachia method involves introducing the naturally occurring bacteria *Wolbachia* into mosquito populations, particularly *Aedes aegypti*, which transmit diseases like dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. *Wolbachia* can prevent these viruses from replicating effectively inside the mosquito, thereby reducing the mosquito’s ability to transmit the disease to humans. It can also affect mosquito reproduction, potentially suppressing populations over time.
This method is being explored and implemented by organizations like the World Mosquito Program as a sustainable, long-term approach to control mosquito-borne viral diseases, as an alternative or complement to traditional methods like insecticides.

6. In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic,

In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:

  • The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
  • Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.
  • COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2022
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Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect.
– Statement 1 is incorrect: Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. It uses a viral vector platform (specifically, a modified chimpanzee adenovirus) to deliver the genetic material for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. It is not an mRNA vaccine.
– Statement 2 is correct: Sputnik V, developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute in Russia, is an adenoviral vector vaccine. It uses two different human adenoviruses (Ad26 and Ad5) for the two doses.
– Statement 3 is correct: COVAXIN, developed by Bharat Biotech in India, is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine. It uses the whole SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has been chemically inactivated so it cannot replicate or cause disease, but can still trigger an immune response.
COVID-19 vaccines utilize various platforms, including mRNA (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna), viral vector (e.g., AstraZeneca/Covishield, Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson), inactivated virus (e.g., COVAXIN, Sinovac, Sinopharm), and protein subunit. Understanding the platform is key to knowing how the vaccine works.

7. Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cel

Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body ?

They protect the body from environmental allergens.
They alleviate the body's pain and inflammation.
They act as immunosuppressants in the body.
They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2022
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The correct answer is D) They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.
B cells and T cells are lymphocytes, which are key components of the adaptive immune system. Their primary role is to recognize specific pathogens (like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) and mount a targeted immune response to eliminate them and prevent diseases.
B cells produce antibodies that neutralize pathogens or mark them for destruction. T cells directly kill infected cells (cytotoxic T cells), help other immune cells (helper T cells), or regulate the immune response (regulatory T cells).
While immune responses involving B and T cells can contribute to inflammation (which is part of healing but also causes pain), their main function is not to alleviate pain or inflammation directly (Option B). They are crucial for developing immunity, not immunosuppression (Option C), though certain subsets of T cells are regulatory. While they are involved in responses to allergens, their role in protecting against pathogens is their fundamental and primary function (Option A vs. D).

8. What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in Ind

What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India ?

  1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
  2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
  3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
1 and 2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2020
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Statements 1 and 2 highlight important benefits of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCVs) in India.
Statement 1: Pneumococcal bacteria (*Streptococcus pneumoniae*) are a major cause of several serious illnesses, including pneumonia, meningitis (infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord), and sepsis (bloodstream infection), particularly in young children and the elderly. PCVs protect against infection by the most common and dangerous strains of these bacteria, thereby preventing these diseases. Correct.
Statement 2: By preventing pneumococcal infections, PCVs significantly reduce the incidence of pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. This, in turn, reduces the need for antibiotic treatment for these conditions. Lowering the overall use of antibiotics helps to slow down the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is a growing global health crisis. Correct.
Statement 3: While PCVs are generally safe and effective, no vaccine is completely free of side effects or the potential for allergic reactions. Common side effects are usually mild, such as fever, redness or swelling at the injection site, and irritability. Serious allergic reactions are rare but possible with any vaccine. Therefore, the statement that these vaccines have *no* side effects and cause *no* allergic reactions is incorrect.
PCVs are included in India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) to protect children against pneumococcal diseases. Vaccination is a key strategy for preventing infectious diseases and combating antimicrobial resistance.

9. Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to

Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing?

  • 1. Chikungunya
  • 2. Hepatitis B
  • 3. HIV-AIDS

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2013
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Hepatitis B and HIV-AIDS can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing if contaminated equipment is used.
Tattooing involves piercing the skin. If needles or other instruments used for tattooing are not properly sterilized and have been contaminated with infected blood, blood-borne viruses can be transmitted.
1. Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, not through blood-to-blood contact via needles.
2. Hepatitis B is a blood-borne virus that can be transmitted through contaminated needles, syringes, or other sharp instruments.
3. HIV-AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is primarily transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. Sharing contaminated needles is a known risk factor for HIV transmission.
Other infections that can potentially be transmitted through unsterile tattooing practices include Hepatitis C, tetanus, and various bacterial infections. Proper sterilization techniques and single-use needles are crucial for preventing the spread of diseases during tattooing.

10. Which one of the following diseases does not transmit through fine d

Which one of the following diseases does not transmit through fine droplets coming out from mouth or nose of an infected person?

Pneumonia
COVID-19
HIV-AIDS
Tuberculosis
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2021
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The correct answer is C) HIV-AIDS.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), which causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), is primarily transmitted through specific bodily fluids: blood, semen, vaginal secretions, rectal fluids, and breast milk. The most common modes of transmission are sexual contact, sharing contaminated needles, and mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. It is NOT transmitted through casual contact or respiratory droplets like coughing or sneezing. Pneumonia and Tuberculosis are bacterial or viral infections often spread through airborne droplets expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. COVID-19 is a viral disease (caused by SARS-CoV-2) primarily spread through respiratory droplets.
Understanding the modes of transmission is crucial for implementing effective prevention strategies for infectious diseases. Respiratory illnesses are often transmitted via droplets or aerosols, while diseases like HIV are transmitted via specific fluid exchange.
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