Read the passage and answer the following questions:
Once inside the human body, the HIV virus enters macrophages, a type of immune cell. Within the macrophages, the viral RNA genome is replicated to form viral DNA with the assistance of an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. This viral DNA is then integrated into the DNA of the host cell, directing the infected cell to produce virus particles. The infected macrophages continue to produce the virus, acting as HIV factories. Simultaneously, the HIV virus also enters helper T-lymphocytes (TH cells) and replicates within them, producing new viruses. These progeny viruses are released into the bloodstream and target other helper T-lymphocytes, leading to a progressive decrease in their numbers. As the number of helper T-lymphocytes decreases, the infected person experiences various symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, and weight loss. Due to the decrease in helper T-lymphocytes, the person's immune system becomes severely weakened, making them susceptible to infections that could typically be overcome, including those caused by bacteria, such as Mycobacterium, viruses, fungi, and parasites like Toxoplasma. The patient becomes immunodeficient, unable to effectively protect themselves against these infections. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a widely used diagnostic test for AIDS, allowing for the detection of HIV infection. While antiretroviral drugs can partially prolong the life of AIDS patients, they cannot prevent death, which is inevitable without a cure for the disease. As AIDS has no cure, prevention is the best option. HIV infection primarily spreads through conscious behavioural patterns, unlike infections like pneumonia or typhoid that may occur inadvertently. Steps such as ensuring blood safety in blood banks, using disposable needles and syringes, promoting condom distribution, controlling drug abuse, advocating safe sex, and regular HIV check-ups in susceptible populations are taken to prevent the spread of HIV infection. It is essential not to hide HIV infection or AIDS as doing so may lead to further transmission. HIV/AIDS-infected individuals deserve help and sympathy from society instead of being stigmatized. Recognizing HIV/AIDS as a collective problem and taking collaborative actions between society and the medical fraternity are needed to prevent the widespread dissemination of the disease. It requires a joint effort to tackle this malady and prevent its spread.
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): HIV/AIDS-infected persons should not be isolated from family and society.
Reason (R): HIV/AIDS is not spread by mere touch or physical contact; it spreads only through body fluids.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Assertion (A): HIV/AIDS-infected persons should not be isolated from family and society. — True. A is about how society should treat people with HIV/AIDS. The book says they need help and sympathy and should not be isolated.
Reason (R): HIV/AIDS is not spread by mere touch or physical contact; it spreads only through body fluids. — True. R is about how HIV spreads: through sexual contact, contaminated blood, shared infected needles and from mother to child through the placenta, all of which involve body fluids. It does not spread by touch.
Why R explains A? People might want to isolate an infected person out of fear of catching the infection. R removes that fear: living, eating or working together and ordinary touch do not pass on the virus. Since there is no risk from such contact, there is no reason to keep the person away from family and society. So R is the correct explanation of A.
The passage asks for help and sympathy for infected people, but it does not say how the virus is or is not spread.
NCERT Extract:
AIDS – “… It is important to note that HIV/AIDS is not spread by mere touch or physical contact; it spreads only through body fluids. It is, hence, imperative, for the physical and psychological well-being, that the HIV/AIDS infected persons are not isolated from family and society. There is always a time-lag between the infection and appearance of AIDS symptoms. This period may vary from a few months to many years (usually 5-10 years).”