Assertion: HIV infected person are prone to opportunistic diseases.
Reason: Immune system weakens during HIV infection.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) If both Assertion and Reason are correct, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) If Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
(d) If both the Assertion and Reason are incorrect.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
Explanation:
Usually, person shows symptoms of HIV infection within 2 to 6 weeks of exposure to the virus. But in some persons, the virus may remain silent for long periods (upto 10 years) before symptoms of full blown AIDS are observable. The symptoms of HIV infection include fever, lethargy, pharyngitis, nausea, headache, rashes etc. Persons suffering from AIDS have a weakened immune system due to depletion of T- helper cells. Such persons show opportunistic infections, i.e., infection by those fungi, bacteria and viruses to which a person with normal immune system is expected to be resistant. Therefore, persons prone to opportunistic infections may be suspected to be infected by HIV, particularly, if the count of T helper cells in 200/ ml or lower.