Video Transcript
Which of the following is a viral
disease that would be detected during the medical tests done before marriage? (A) Thalassemia, (B) Down’s
syndrome, (C) AIDS, (D) hemophilia.
Genetic screening can be used to
detect genetic disorders that can be inherited by the baby. On the other hand, medical
screening can be used to detect infectious diseases which can sometimes be passed
from a mother to her baby. Medical screening is what would be
used to test for viral diseases. So this question is asking us to
determine which answer choice corresponds to a disease caused by a viral infection
compared to a genetic disorder.
Thalassemia is the name for a group
of inherited disorders that affect hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the protein
responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells. People with this condition have
reduced hemoglobin in their red blood cells. And this leaves the red blood cells
malformed. This can lead to a variety of
symptoms, and people with Thalassemia typically have a reduced life expectancy. Since thalassemia is an inherited
and genetic disorder and not a viral disease, answer choice (A) is incorrect.
In answer choice (D), hemophilia is
another disorder of the blood, but this affects the blood’s ability to clot. Someone with hemophilia who is
wounded will bleed for a longer period of time compared to someone without it. Like thalassemia, hemophilia is
also a genetic disorder that is inherited. So answer choice (D) is
incorrect.
Someone with Down syndrome has an
extra copy of chromosome 21, or three copies in total. This can cause a wide range of
symptoms, including mental impairment and stunted growth. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder
and is therefore not a viral disease. So answer choice (B) is
incorrect.
AIDS is caused by a virus called
HIV. HIV infects our immune cells and
weakens the immune system over time. Over the course of 10 to 15 years,
persistent HIV infection can progress to AIDS. People with AIDS have a constant
fever, fatigue, and trouble breathing that can ultimately lead to death. This is a viral infection that can
be passed on to a child through pregnancy, childbirth, or by breastfeeding. Therefore, the option that
represents a viral disease that can be tested before marriage is given by answer
choice (C), AIDS.
