Question:
Why is AIDS considered to be a "syndrome" and not a disease?
(CCE 2012)
Solution:
Syndrome is a group of symptoms, signs, physical and physiological disturbances that are due to a common cause. AIDS is also a complex of diseases and symptoms which develop due to failure of the body to fight off even minor infections. HIV that causes AIDS damages immune system of the patient by destroying T4 lymphocytes. As a result, even small cold leads to development of pneumonia, a minor gut infection leads to severe diarrhoea and blood loss, while skin rashes develop into ulcers.