Knowledge on Dengue in a Section of Medical Students of Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh

A study was conducted on students of 150 batch (MBBS second semester) & 119 batch (MBBS sixth semester) of GSL medical college, Rajahmundry to assess overall knowledge regarding Dengue fever among these medical students. By random sampling technique, 50 students from 150 batch and an equal number of 50 students from 119 batch were selected and interviewed on a pre-designed questionnaire. Students of 150 batch had no exposure whatsoever to the subject whereas the students of 119 batch had been taught the subject in their class in the recent past and had also clinical exposure in the hospital. Thus, the data emanating from the study indicated overall common knowledge on dengue and in these two different groups of students for comparison. As said earlier, the juniors had not been taught the subject and had no clinical exposure. Hence their knowledge could be more or less compared with any other student of biological sciences. The seniors although have been taught the subject and have clinical exposure, they lacked knowledge on entomological aspects particularly mosquito bionomics, clinical manifestations, clinical staging, criteria for diagnosis and management of cases. There is a need to refresh their knowledge because of the rapid geographic expansion of both the virus and the mosquito, regularity of epidemics, and the increasing occurrence of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) all causing great concern.