Why is AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome considered a and not disease?

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is both a disease and a syndrome.

Disease: In the context of medicine, a disease refers to a specific pathological condition that affects the body. It is characterized by a distinct set of signs and symptoms, and it can be caused by various factors such as infections, genetic defects, or environmental toxins. AIDS meets the criteria of a disease because it is characterized by a specific cluster of symptoms and conditions, including opportunistic infections, certain types of cancer, and neurological disorders, all resulting from the damage to the immune system caused by HIV.

Syndrome: A syndrome, on the other hand, refers to a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and are indicative of a particular medical condition. It does not necessarily imply a single, well-defined disease. AIDS is also considered a syndrome because it encompasses a range of symptoms and conditions associated with the advanced stage of HIV infection. The presence of specific opportunistic infections, such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) or Kaposi's sarcoma, along with other clinical manifestations, are defining features of AIDS.

Therefore, AIDS can be accurately described as both a disease and a syndrome. It represents a specific pathological condition caused by HIV infection, characterized by a cluster of symptoms and conditions that signify a severely weakened immune system.