Q. Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing?

  1. Chikungunya
  2. Hepatitis B
  3. HIV-AIDS

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  • 1 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 1 and 3 only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Chikungunya
  • Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an RNA virus in the alphavirus genus of the family Togaviridae.
  • It was first recognized in 1952 during an outbreak in southern Tanzania. 
  • Symptoms: Chikungunya causes fever and severe joint pain, which is often debilitating and varies in duration.
    • Dengue and Zika have similar symptoms to chikungunya, making chikungunya easy to misdiagnose.
  • Transmission: Chikungunya is transmitted to humans by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. 
    • Most commonly, the mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
      • These two species can also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue.
        • They bite throughout daylight hours, although there may be peaks of activity in the early morning and late afternoon. 
  • Prevalence: According to WHO, It is prevalent in Africa, Asia, and the Americas; but sporadic outbreaks have been reported in other regions.
  • Treatment Options: Presently, there is no cure for chikungunya, with symptomatic relief being the primary approach.
    • Treatment involves the use of analgesics, antipyretics, rest, and adequate fluid intake.
    • There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for chikungunya virus infections.
Hepatitis
  • Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.
  • Inflammation is swelling that happens when tissues of the body are injured or infected.
  • It can damage your liver. This swelling and damage can affect how well your liver functions.
  • Hepatitis can be an acute (short-term) infection or a chronic (long-term) infection. 
  • What causes hepatitis? There are different types of hepatitis, with different causes:
    • Viral hepatitis is the most common type. It is caused by one of several viruses — hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, and E.
    • Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by heavy alcohol use.
    • Toxic hepatitis can be caused by certain poisons, chemicals, medicines, or supplements.
    • Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic type in which your body’s immune system attacks your liver. The cause is not known, but genetics and your environment may play a role.
  • How is viral hepatitis spread?
    • Hepatitis A and hepatitis E usually spread through contact with food or water that is contaminated with an infected person’s stool. You can also get hepatitis E by eating undercooked food.
    • Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and hepatitis D spread through contact with the blood of someone who has the disease. 
    • Hepatitis B and D may also spread through contact with other body fluids. This can happen in many ways, such as sharing drug needles or having unprotected sex.
  • Treatment:
    • Hepatitis A and E are self-limiting diseases (i.e. go away on their own) and require no specific antiviral medications.
    • For Hepatitis B and C, effective medications are available.
HIV
  • HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is a virus that attacks the immune system in the human body.
  • It primarily targets and damages CD4 immune cells, which are essential for the body’s ability to fight infections and diseases.
    • Over time, HIV weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers.
  • Transmission:
    • HIV is primarily spread through the exchange of certain bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
  • Severity:
    • If left untreated, the virus destroys a person’s immune system and they are said to be in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome stage (AIDS) where they get several opportunistic infections that may result in death.
  • Cure:
    • Although there are no cures for the infection at present, the disease can be managed using antiretroviral therapy.
      • These medicines suppress the replication of the virus within the body, allowing the number of CD4 immune cells to bounce back.