New York Nail Technician License Practice Test

Which disease is known for attacking and destroying the immune system?

1. Hepatitis

2. Flu

3. AIDS

4. Tuberculosis

The correct answer is: AIDS

AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus specifically targets and destroys the body's immune system, particularly the CD4 cells, which are crucial in fighting off infections. As the immune system becomes increasingly compromised, individuals with AIDS are left vulnerable to opportunistic infections and certain cancers, which a healthy immune system would typically be able to fend off. In contrast, hepatitis primarily affects the liver and does not directly attack the immune system itself. The flu, a viral infection, may impact overall health and the immune system temporarily but does not cause the long-term and severe immune deficiency seen in AIDS. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs and can compromise the immune system, but it does not fundamentally destroy immune function in the way that AIDS does. Thus, AIDS stands out as the disease specifically characterized by its direct and devastating impact on the immune system.