Viral Diseases and Immunity

FALSE is correct because HIV can affect anyone, not just drug users or gay men. HIV is transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. Heterosexual contact accounts for many HIV transmissions globally, and people of any sexual orientation or drug use status can become infected.

None of the above is correct. HIV is only transmitted through specific body fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. It is NOT transmitted through sharing utensils, mosquito bites, hugging, or other casual contact. The virus is fragile and cannot survive outside the body.

A CD4 count of 200 or less indicates significant immune system damage and is one of the criteria for an AIDS diagnosis. At this level, the immune system is severely compromised and the person is at high risk for opportunistic infections. Antiretroviral treatment should definitely be started to restore immune function.

Window period is the correct term. This is the time between initial HIV infection and when the infection can be detected by a test. During this period, a person may be infected but test negative because antibodies have not yet developed. The window period typically lasts 2-4 weeks but can extend to 3 months in rare cases.

TRUE is correct because AIDS is considered a pandemic - a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world. HIV/AIDS has affected millions of people across all continents since it was discovered. The WHO declared HIV/AIDS a global pandemic, and it remains a major global health issue to this day.

The question asks what type of cell HIV targets, then states it targets CD4 positive T cells. CD4 cells are a type of WHITE BLOOD CELL (lymphocytes) that coordinate the immune response. HIV specifically infects and destroys these white blood cells, weakening the body's ability to fight infections.

FALSE is correct. HIV is a fragile virus that cannot survive for long outside the human body. It is quickly destroyed by heat, air drying, and exposure to light. HIV transmission requires direct contact with infected body fluids inside the body - the virus dies rapidly in dry air.

Condoms with oil-based lubricants are NOT advisable because oil-based products (like petroleum jelly, baby oil, or mineral oil) can weaken and break down latex, causing the condom to fail or leak. This significantly increases the risk of HIV transmission. Water-based or silicone-based lubricants are safe to use with latex condoms.

HIV/AIDS treatments (antiretroviral therapy) work by preventing the virus from replicating and growing in the body, not by directly killing it. Option B correctly states this. Option A is incorrect because HIV cannot be completely killed - only controlled. Option C is incorrect because treatments don't both kill and prevent growth.

AIDS stands for "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome," a condition caused by HIV that severely damages the immune system. Option A incorrectly uses "System" instead of "Syndrome," and D incorrectly uses "Acquire" instead of "Acquired."

ELISA stands for Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, a widely used laboratory technique that detects and measures antibodies, antigens, proteins, and hormones. The 'I' stands for 'Immuno,' referring to the immunological principles the test is based on.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome - the disease caused by HIV. 'Acquired' means it's not inherited, 'Immune Deficiency' refers to the weakened immune system, and 'Syndrome' indicates a collection of symptoms.