INTRODUCTIONDengue virus was first isolated in India in 1945.1 Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flulike illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. Dengue is an acute febrile illness caused by Flavi virus, which exist in four different serotypes, namely DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. The incidence of dengue has increased 30-fold over the last 50 years. Up to 50-100 million infections are now estimated to occur annually in over 100 endemic countries, putting almost half of the world's population at risk.2 Around 2.5 to 3 billion people, living mainly in urban areas of tropical and subtropical regions are ABSTRACT Background: Dengue fever (DF) is a viral infection carried by Aedesaegypti. Dengue is one of the major public health concerns and an emergent disease and contributes annual outbreaks in India. The aims and objectives of the study were to know the levels of knowledge regarding causation and modes of transmission Dengue fever in urban slums of Chittoor and to know the levels of awareness and practices regarding the prevention and control measures against dengue fever. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was done in urban slums of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh. The data from the family members residing in 100 households of urban slums were randomly selected from the list and interviewed individually. Apart from education and occupation of the participants, information on knowledge about Dengue fever, preventive practices are taken. The results were shown in proportions, percentage and association of the knowledge attitude and practices with the different factors. Results: Over all 100 (males 57 and females 43) people were interviewed with the mean age of 34.5 years. Almost 68% of the individuals knew mosquito causes vector borne diseases irrespective of their educational status and majority of them were daily wagers. Amongst them more than 70% of them were using protective measures. Majority of them responded the probable breeding sites were plastic pots, muddy pots and vessels (38%). The most commonly using protective measures were mosquito repellants (33%) and coils (19%). More than 90% of the individual visit the hospital for health seeking. Conclusions: The awareness regarding dengue and mosquito control measures was satisfactory to an extent. Surveillance along with periodic health education to the community and proper training of health personnel is required.

Background: The abundance of Aedes mosquitoes which transmits dengue fever fluctuates with unusual rainfall pattern and water storage practices, as it breeds well in artificial collections of water in and around the houses so vector control is the only way to break the chain of disease transmission. This study aims to find out the association between water storage practices and mosquito larval indices.Methods: This was a longitudinal study conducted among 121 households in the rural field practice area of SRM Medical College and Research Centre using a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire along with visual inspection of households for water collection and larval breeding.Results: Total study population in the 121 households was 484 which includes 247 (51%) males and 237 (49%) females. Majority of the study population were illiterates 23.7% or have education upto high school 20.8%, doing semi-skilled/unskilled work 32% belonging to a nuclear family 69.4%. More than half of the households were living in pucca house 50.4% and belongs to class-II socio-economic status 46.3%. Water scarcity and water storage were reported mostly in months between March to June which was significantly associated with presence of larva in the corresponding months (p<0.001).Conclusions: Water storage practices due to water scarcity has a significant association with the larval indices which shows that improper water storage practices can be a breeding place for mosquitoes and aid in transmission of vector borne diseases.

Back ground: The ABO and Rhesus –D blood group are the major blood group systems. The frequency of four main blood group systems varies in population throughout the world and even in different parts of the country. ABO & Rh blood group antigens play a Vital role in immunologic safety of whole blood and blood component transfusion and also useful in population genetic studies, in resolving medico legal issues. Aim: This study is aimed to document the frequency and distribution pattern of ABO and Rh among blood donors in S.V.R.R.Govt. General Hospital, Tirupati. Study Design: It is a retrospective record based study carried out at Model blood bank S.V.R.R.Govt. General Hospital Tirupati from January 2014 to December 2015. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 13,040 donors. ABO and Rh typing was done by using slide agglutination method with antisera ABO and Rh (tulip Diag). Doubtful cases were confirmed by tube agglutination method and reverse grouping by using pooled A& B cells. The age group and sex of donors and frequency of ABO and Rh blood groups were reported in simple percentages. Results: In the present study the most common blood group was ‘O’ 5505 (42.2%) and least common being AB 778 (5.96%). The prevalence of Rh positive and negative distribution in the study population is 12267(94.07%) and 773(5.93%) respectively. Predominant donors belonged to age group between 18-35 years (85.37 %).Male donors (97.88%) are common than female donors (2.12%) with ratio. Blood group frequency with respect to ABO and Rh was found to be O>B>A>AB. Conclusion:   O positive blood group is significantly high  in our population  while AB Iis least.. Blood donation by females appears to be low provably because of illiteracy, malnutrition and social taboo. So female donor need to be motivated for blood donation.  Knowledge of frequencies of different blood groups is very important for blood banks and transfusion service polices for better use and good inventory of blood units. Key words: Blood groups ABO, Rh

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Background: Nutrition rehabilitation centers (NRCs) were started to control severe malnutrition and follow-up of children with severe acute malnutrition is essential because mortality rate of 10-30% has been reported after discharge from hospital.Methods: A community based cross sectional study with the objectives to assess the current health status of the children discharged from the NRC and to assess the healthy practices learned by mothers during their stay at NRC. We included children those discharged from May to October 2013. The children were approached house to house visit and assessed for their health status with a pretested semi structured questionnaire. Mothers of the children were also interviewed for the knowledge and practices of the dietary and child care.Results: Among 67 children, 8 (11.9%) children could not be traced and 7 (10.4%) were reported dead, 52 were included 27 were boys and 25 were girls with a mean age of 35 months. The current nutritional status was 71.2% were not in very low weight, 17.3% were moderately underweight, and 11.5% were still severely underweight. Children who had more number of follow-ups had a better nutritional status which was significant (p<0.0001). 94% of the mothers had knowledge about correct feeding practices and food preparations; 86.5% were aware of good hygiene; 75% aware of the danger signs. Only 59.5% of the mothers could recollect the structured play therapy.Conclusions: Community based followup of the children following discharge from NRC and appropriate feedback to the mothers is very much essential for sustained results.