3 ms·
I think it would be more accurate to say that AIDS is a syndrome because it's defined as such. You can also speak of HIV disease[1]. HIV disease would be the di
by mtdewcmu 12y ago
I think it would be more accurate to say that AIDS is a syndrome because it's defined as such. You can also speak of HIV disease[1]. HIV disease would be the disease associated with the human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS refers to a particular syndrome. They mostly overlap, but they describe slightly different concepts. My speculation is that the reason the distinction persists is mainly historical: AIDS was described and became well known before the HIV virus was discovered and was demonstrated as the causative agent.
[1] http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/211316-overview http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/211316-overview
- ggchappell 12y ago> My speculation is that the reason the distinction persists is mainly historical .... I imagine another reason for the distinction is that AIDS is typically a late stage of HIV infection. That is, people who develop AIDS have usually been infected with HIV for some time.
- mtdewcmu 12y agoThat would have played a role. No doubt.