Diseases and Treatment Archives

11. Vaccination involves :

Vaccination involves :

injecting the body with materials that stimulate the body to produce antibodies

injecting the body with materials that stimulate the body to produce antigens

the use of monoclonal antibodies to cure a disease

use of antibiotics to cure diseases

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2016

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Vaccination involves introducing materials into the body that stimulate the immune system to produce specific antibodies, thereby providing immunity against a particular disease.

– The material injected during vaccination (vaccine) contains antigens from a pathogen (either weakened/inactivated forms, parts of the pathogen, or genetic material).
– The presence of these antigens triggers an immune response, including the production of antibodies and the formation of memory cells.
– This prepares the body to mount a rapid and effective immune response if it encounters the actual, live pathogen later.
– Vaccination prevents disease, while antibiotics (Option D) treat bacterial infections once they occur. Monoclonal antibodies (Option C) are specific antibodies used for therapeutic purposes, different from the principle of vaccination. Option B is incorrect as vaccination stimulates the body *against* antigens, not to produce them.

Vaccines are one of the most effective public health interventions, having significantly reduced the incidence and mortality of many infectious diseases worldwide. They work by leveraging the body’s natural adaptive immune system.

12. Byssinosis disease is common in the workers of

Byssinosis disease is common in the workers of

rubber industry

ceramic industry

textile industry

iron and steel industry

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2012

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The correct answer is C) textile industry.

Byssinosis, also known as “brown lung disease,” is an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling cotton, flax, or hemp dust. It is commonly found among workers in the textile industry, particularly those involved in the initial processing of cotton fibers.

Workers in the rubber industry may face risks from chemicals or latex. Ceramic industry workers may be exposed to silica dust (silicosis). Iron and steel industry workers may be exposed to metal fumes, dusts, and heat. Byssinosis is specifically linked to textile dust exposure.

13. Which one of the following is a waterborne disease?

Which one of the following is a waterborne disease?

Jaundice

Tuberculosis

Rabies

Arthritis

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2018

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Jaundice, when caused by Hepatitis A or Hepatitis E, is a symptom related to waterborne transmission.

– Waterborne diseases are caused by pathogens transmitted through contaminated water.
– Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E viruses, which cause liver inflammation leading to jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes), are typically spread through the faecal-oral route, often via contaminated water or food.
– Tuberculosis is airborne.
– Rabies is spread through animal bites.
– Arthritis is joint inflammation with various causes, not typically infectious or waterborne.

While jaundice is a symptom and not a disease itself, among the given options, it is the only condition directly linked to waterborne pathogens (specifically, the viruses causing Hepatitis A and E). Therefore, in the context of potential UPSC-style options, Jaundice (as a manifestation of waterborne Hepatitis) is the intended answer.

14. Who among the following discovered the antibiotic producing fungus fro

Who among the following discovered the antibiotic producing fungus from Penicillium genus?

Louis Pasteur

Sir Alexander Fleming

Stanley Prusiner

Robert Hooke

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2015

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Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, observing that a mould of the genus *Penicillium* contaminated a staphylococcus culture plate and killed the bacteria. This serendipitous discovery led to the identification of penicillin as the first widely used antibiotic.

The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming revolutionized medicine by providing an effective treatment for bacterial infections.

Louis Pasteur was a pioneering microbiologist known for pasteurization and the germ theory of disease. Stanley Prusiner discovered prions, which are infectious proteins. Robert Hooke was a 17th-century scientist known for his microscopic observations and coining the term “cell”.

15. Which of the following pairs of vector and disease is/are correctly ma

Which of the following pairs of vector and disease is/are correctly matched?

1. Anopheles : Malaria
2. Aedes aegypti : Chikungunya
3. Tsetse fly : Filariasis
4. Bed bugs : Sleeping sickness

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 2 and 3 only

1 and 2 only

1 and 4 only

2 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2016

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The correct answer is B) 1 and 2 only.

Vectors are organisms that transmit pathogens from one host to another. Let’s evaluate each pair:
1. Anopheles : Malaria – Correct. Female Anopheles mosquitoes are the vectors for the malaria parasite (Plasmodium).
2. Aedes aegypti : Chikungunya – Correct. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are known vectors for Chikungunya virus, Dengue virus, Zika virus, and Yellow Fever virus.
3. Tsetse fly : Filariasis – Incorrect. Tsetse flies are vectors for African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness). Filariasis (caused by parasitic worms) is typically transmitted by mosquitoes (Culex, Anopheles, or Aedes species) or black flies, depending on the type of filariasis.
4. Bed bugs : Sleeping sickness – Incorrect. Bed bugs feed on blood but are not primary vectors for major human diseases. Sleeping sickness is transmitted by the Tsetse fly.

Disease vectors play a crucial role in the spread of many infectious diseases. Vector control is an important strategy for preventing outbreaks and reducing the burden of vector-borne diseases worldwide. Examples include controlling mosquito populations to prevent malaria and dengue, or using insecticides to target tsetse flies.

16. Which one among the following diseases does not yet have any effective

Which one among the following diseases does not yet have any effective vaccine ?

Chicken pox

Typhoid

Viral Hepatitis C

Human Papilloma virus

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2024

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As of late 2023 / early 2024, effective vaccines are available for Chickenpox, Typhoid, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). However, there is no effective vaccine currently available to prevent Viral Hepatitis C infection.

While there is no vaccine, Hepatitis C is curable with antiviral medications. Research is ongoing to develop a vaccine for Hepatitis C, which is caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact.

17. Who among the following is credited with pioneering the oral rehydrati

Who among the following is credited with pioneering the oral rehydration therapy?

Anandi Joshi

Bidhan Chandra Roy

Dilip Mahalanabis

Siddhartha Mukherjee

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2023

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Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis is widely credited with pioneering and popularizing the use of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT).

Dr. Mahalanabis demonstrated the effectiveness of ORT during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War refugee crisis, drastically reducing mortality rates from cholera among children.

ORT, a simple and inexpensive mixture of sugar, salt, and water, is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a crucial intervention for treating dehydration caused by diarrhea, saving millions of lives globally. Dr. Mahalanabis received several international awards for his work on ORT, including the Prince Mahidol Award and the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award.

18. Which one of the following electromagnetic radiations in the sunlight

Which one of the following electromagnetic radiations in the sunlight is considered to be the main cause of skin cancer?

X-ray

Ultraviolet ray

Visible light

Infrared radiation

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2022

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Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the primary cause of skin cancer. UV rays, specifically UVB and UVA, can damage the DNA in skin cells.

Exposure to UV radiation can lead to mutations in skin cells, which can result in the development of skin cancers, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

While other electromagnetic radiations have different effects (e.g., infrared causes heat), UV radiation is the most harmful component of sunlight in terms of skin damage and cancer risk. The ozone layer absorbs most of the sun’s harmful UV radiation, but some reaches the Earth’s surface.

19. Which one of the following statements about immunisation is correct?

Which one of the following statements about immunisation is correct?

In immunisation, infectious agent is killed directly by component of vaccine

In immunisation, infectious agent is killed through immune system

Immunisation has no role in preventing infectious diseases

Immunisation against one infectious disease is sufficient for all infectious diseases

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2021

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In immunisation (vaccination), a weakened or inactive form of an infectious agent or its components is introduced into the body. This triggers the body’s immune system to recognize the agent and produce antibodies and memory cells against it. If the vaccinated individual is later exposed to the actual infectious agent, the immune system can quickly recognize and eliminate it, thus killing the infectious agent through the immune response.

Immunisation works by stimulating the adaptive immune system to build memory against specific pathogens.

Option A is incorrect because vaccine components themselves do not directly kill the infectious agent; they are signals for the immune system. Option C is incorrect as immunisation is a highly effective method for preventing many infectious diseases. Option D is incorrect because immunity is specific; a vaccine against one disease typically provides protection only against that specific disease or a closely related group of diseases.

20. An infection constantly maintained at a baseline level in a geographic

An infection constantly maintained at a baseline level in a geographic area without external input is known as

Endemic

Pandemic

Epidemic

Outbreak

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2021

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An endemic infection refers to the constant presence and/or usual prevalence of a disease or infectious agent in a population within a geographic area.

The key characteristic of an endemic disease is that it is maintained at a predictable baseline level within a specific region without needing external introduction.

An epidemic is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease in a population in a geographical area exceeding the expected level. A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads across multiple continents or worldwide. An outbreak is a more localized or limited increase in disease incidence compared to the expected level.