Say whether each activity can spread HIV, and give the reason…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Say whether each activity can spread HIV, and give the reason.
- Sharing a needle that was used to inject a drug.
- Hugging and shaking hands with a person who has HIV.
- A transfusion of blood that was not tested.
- Sharing a meal and drinking water from the same tap.
- An infected mother giving birth to a baby.
- A bite of a mosquito that earlier bit a person with HIV.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
In allergy, IgE on mast cells makes the cells release histamine and serotonin. HIV is a retrovirus that destroys the helper T cells. A count below 200 helper T cells in each mm³ of blood is the sign of AIDS. In an ELISA plate a sample is positive when its reading is above the cutoff.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) Can spread. The needle carries infected blood.
Step 2. (b) Cannot spread. HIV does not spread by touch.
Step 3. (c) Can spread. The blood may carry HIV.
Step 4. (d) Cannot spread. HIV is not spread by food or water.
Step 5. (e) Can spread. The virus may pass from the mother to the child, through the placenta and at birth.
Step 6. (f) Cannot spread. HIV does not spread by mosquito bites.
Answer: (a) yes; (b) no; (c) yes; (d) no; (e) yes; (f) no.
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