Correct Option
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which progressively weakens the body's immune system. This renders individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and certain cancers. All the conditions listed are recognized symptoms of AIDS.
- Swollen lymph nodes: Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) is a common manifestation of HIV infection, where lymph nodes in multiple areas of the body become enlarged due to immune system distress.
- Sweating at night: Often referred to as 'night sweats', this is a common systemic symptom associated with chronic infections and immune system activation in HIV/AIDS.
- Loss of memory: HIV can affect the central nervous system, leading to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which include impairments in memory, concentration, and executive function, particularly in advanced stages.
- Loss of weight: Known as HIV wasting syndrome, this involves involuntary weight loss of more than 10% of baseline body weight, often accompanied by chronic diarrhea, weakness, and fever, and is a severe manifestation of advanced HIV disease.
Incorrect Options
- Option (a) is incorrect because it omits loss of memory and loss of weight, both of which are significant symptoms of AIDS.
- Option (b) is incorrect because it does not include swollen lymph nodes, which are a common and often early indicator of HIV infection.
- Option (c) is incorrect because it excludes sweating at night, a frequently observed systemic symptom in individuals with HIV/AIDS.