What are the symptoms of AIDS? And why is it fatal?

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It damages the immune system, interfering with the body's ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease.

Symptoms of AIDS can vary, but they may include:

1. Rapid weight loss
2. Recurring fever or profuse night sweats
3. Extreme and unexplained tiredness
4. Prolonged swelling of the lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck
5. Sores of the mouth, anus, or genitals
6. Pneumonia
7. Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids
8. Memory loss, depression, and other neurological disorders

AIDS is fatal because it severely weakens the immune system to the point where the body can no longer fight off infections and diseases. This leaves the person vulnerable to a range of illnesses, known as opportunistic infections, and can lead to the development of cancers that the body would usually be able to resist. These complications are ultimately what cause death in people with AIDS.