A general question: is AIDS a disease??

Answer 1

Aids is a syndrome- brought on by infection with HIV which causes the bodies immune system to malfunction, leaving the person open to a whole bunch of opportunistic infections. So in the strictest sense, HIV is the disease or virus, AIDS is the term applied to the constellation of problems it causes.

Answer 2

technically nobody dies of AIDS but instead of what is termed an AIDS related illness. HIV or AIDS over time cripples the immune system of the orgnaism it is in until it can no longer defend agaisnt outside invaders and bacteria. The body then succumbs to such illnesses as pnumonia or flu or countless over illnesses that the body can no longer defend against. Treatments such as AZT or the Cocktail can slow the effects of AIDS to keep the immune system working but it not a cure, although there is no limit to how long someone with AIDS can live, there are people right now living with it and have done for many years, so while a cure is not yet available it can no longer be considered a death sentence in the First World where the best treatment is available. As to whether it's a disease that's more or less correct, it falls under the category of sexually transmitted diseases but has rarely been contracted through blood transfusions or similar open wound infections with direct contact.

Answer 3

Ummm...Yes & No.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is technically a virus... that can be viewed as a disease because of the patient distress & physical discomfort it causes.

The difference between a virus & disease is.....
A virus is passed between one person to another though body fluids and a disease is a word that is commonly used to describe a medical condition where the patient is ill.

Answer 4

A cquired I mmune D eficiency S yndrome

Not a disease in itself. But the inability to fight disease. Aids patients typically die of lung infections, ultimately, after having been run down by repeated doses of systemic infections that have stripped their bodies of all their resources.

Answer 5

Disease is a very broad term and HIV and AIDS can both be considered diseases. However being infected with the virus HIV does not necessarily mean that you will have AIDS.

Answer 6

No, AIDS is the syndrome of diminished immunoresponse that is caused by the HIV infection (which is the actual disease).

Answer 7

It depends on how you look at it - but it is caused by a virus just like chicken pox and the measles.

However, becuase of its long infection time and the fact that it ultimately leads to death due to a secondary infection - it really is in a whole new class all of its own.

Answer 8

Grendle is correct. The disease is HIV. Hiv weakens your immune system, causing the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Syndrome is just a bunch of stuff combined to mess you up!

Answer 9

it is caused by a virus, and it is def not a disease. its a syndrome, this is becasue is neither a disease nor a virus. a disease has a specific cause, while a syndrome may have many symptoms.

Answer 10

Yes