National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Practice Test

What is a common characteristic of a female who is an asymptomatic carrier of a specific infection?

1. She exhibits evident symptoms of the disease

2. She transmits the infection to others without showing symptoms

3. She is usually hospitalized for treatment

4. She is unable to transmit the infection at all

The correct answer is: She transmits the infection to others without showing symptoms

A common characteristic of a female who is an asymptomatic carrier of a specific infection is that she transmits the infection to others without showing symptoms. This means that despite not experiencing any clinical manifestations of the disease herself, she can still harbor the pathogen and pass it on to others, potentially leading to the spread of the infection in the population. This state complicates the control and identification of infectious diseases, as asymptomatic carriers do not seek treatment or medical attention, making it challenging to implement measures to prevent transmission. In contrast, the other options are inconsistent with the definition of asymptomatic carriers. A person exhibiting evident symptoms clearly does not fit the description of an asymptomatic carrier. Being hospitalized for treatment suggests the presence of symptoms requiring medical attention, again not aligning with being asymptomatic. Lastly, being unable to transmit the infection contradicts the very nature of being an asymptomatic carrier, since these individuals can and do spread the infection to others.