Question

A 20-year-old male with no history of any sexual contact was tested HIV positive. Which one of the following reasons could be a probable cause?

• A. He would have shaken hands with an HIV positive person.
• B. He would have had lunch with an HIV positive person.
• C. He would have hugged an HIV positive person.
• D. He would have shared a razor or needle with an HIV positive person.

Answer 1

The correct option is D He would have shared a razor or needle with an HIV positive person.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in the infected person.

This virus commonly spreads by sexual contact between two sexual partners by oral, anal or vaginal route. There has to be an exchange of body fluids between the sexual partners for the transmission of this virus.

Shaking hands, hugging, sitting or having a meal with an HIV positive person does not spread the virus from the infected person to the non-infected person.

Sharing a razor, toothbrush, tattoo needles and injections with an infected person can transmit the virus into the bloodstream. Hence option d may be the probable cause.