Question

The disease known as hydrophobia is
A. Rabies
B. Tetanus
C. Syphilis
D. Cholera

Answer 1

Hydrophobia means fear from water and it occurs in a viral disease infection. The disease is characterized by acute brain inflammation. The disease is caused by lyssaviruses. It spreads from an infected animal’s bite or scratch.

Complete answer: The lyssavirus and Australian bat lyssaviruses cause viral infection of the brain which is commonly known as rabies. These viruses are also sometimes referred to as the rabies virus. The virus stays as a host in the animals. It spreads when an infected animal bites or scratches the skin of a human or another animal. It is characterized by acute inflammation of the brain along with fear of water or hydrophobia. Hydrophobia is a historic name for rabies when people observe prominent fear or aversion towards the water in the infected individual. It shows a set of secondary symptoms that appear in the later stages of the disease. The infected person faces difficulty in swallowing. Panic attacks are also seen when the infected individual is presented with water. This leads to excessive dehydration of the body. Over time, the virus becomes more prominent and the brain loses its control. Rabies is a rare disease and occurs in fewer than 1 lakh cases per year in India. An infected person needs urgent medical attention and if not treated it can be life-threatening. It is usually preventable using vaccination. The symptoms can last up to several months.
So, the correct answer is option A.

Note: The fluorescent antibody test is a common diagnostic method for the rabies virus. For medical treatment, 4 shots of vaccine are given in a two week period. Vaccine for rabies was developed in 1885. Treatment for rabies is effective only if given in 10 days of infection.