UPSC Prelims 2010 Q125: Science & Technology – Health & Diseases
Consider the following statements:
1. Hepatitis B is several times more infectious than HIV/AIDS
2. Hepatitis B can cause liver cancer
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation
Checking two claims about Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection with specific comparative and long-term health implications.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Several times more infectious than HIV/AIDS | Correct | Hepatitis B virus is significantly more easily transmitted through blood/body fluid exposure than HIV, due to its higher viral concentration and stability |
| 2. Can cause liver cancer | Correct | Chronic Hepatitis B infection is a well-established major risk factor for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) |
Hepatitis B facts:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Infectiousness | Much higher than HIV |
| Long-term risk | Chronic infection → liver cirrhosis/cancer |
| Prevention | Vaccine widely available |
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 2 (liver cancer risk) is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 1 (higher infectiousness than HIV) is also correct, so '2 only' is incomplete.
- (c) CORRECT. Both Hepatitis B's greater infectiousness compared to HIV and its liver cancer risk are well-established medical facts.
- (d) Incorrect. Since both statements are accurate, 'neither' is wrong.
Key point
Hepatitis B is significantly MORE infectious than HIV/AIDS, AND chronic infection is a major risk factor for LIVER CANCER — both statements are medically accurate.
Remember
Hepatitis B: several times more infectious than HIV/AIDS, and a known cause of liver cancer through chronic infection.
Common mistakes
- Underestimating Hepatitis B's comparative infectiousness relative to HIV.
- Missing the chronic infection-to-liver-cancer pathway as a well-documented health risk.
- Assuming a disease's transmissibility and its long-term health consequences can't both be independently significant.
Exam tip
Hepatitis B: more infectious than HIV AND a major liver-cancer risk factor — both facts, often tested together.
Sources
- World Health Organization — Hepatitis B: fact sheet
- Indian Council of Medical Research — viral hepatitis and liver cancer risk studies