Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) is a fatal neurological disorder caused by the measles virus, emerging years after infection. It leads to cognitive decline, seizures, and death. There is no cure, but timely measles vaccination prevents it. Low vaccination rates in Uttar Pradesh increase SSPE risk, highlighting urgent immunization needs.
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Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) is a serious health concern in Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh due to low measles vaccination coverage.
It is a rare neurological disorder caused by the measles virus.
It develops years after a person recovers from measles but remains undetected in the brain.
It damages nerve cells, which leads to cognitive decline, seizures, motor impairment, and eventually, coma and death.
SSPE mainly affects children, particularly from low-income families. Since they miss routine immunizations, and are at a higher risk of developing measles and its long-term complications like SSPE.
Is there a cure for SSPE?
There is no permanent cure for SSPE. Some treatments, like antiviral and immunotherapy, may slow its progression, but the disease remains fatal.
The best way to prevent it is timely measles vaccination, which prevents both the initial infection and long-term complications like SSPE.
If vaccination rates increase, SSPE cases will decline, as seen in Western countries.
It is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the measles virus (genus Morbillivirus).
It primarily affects the respiratory system and spreads easily through airborne droplets.
It is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans. A single infected person can spread the virus to 90% of unvaccinated people around them.
The best protection against measles is vaccination. The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective.
There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles. Doctors focus on managing symptoms and preventing complications.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes provided: Assertion (A): Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) is more common in individuals who had measles infection at an early age. Reason (R): The immature immune system fails to clear the virus completely, leading to its persistence in the brain. Which of the following is correct? (A) Both A and R are true, and R explains A. (B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A. (C) A is true, but R is false. (D) A is false, but R is true. Answer: A Explanation: SSPE occurs mostly in children who had measles before the age of 2 years because their immune system fails to eliminate the virus completely. The virus stays dormant for years before triggering SSPE. |
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