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Immune System
Learn about the immune system
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The immune system is the body's natural defense system that helps fight infections by attacking the germs that cause diseases. But just like with any other part of your body, there can be problems with your immune system. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an example of a virus that damages the immune system so that the body is unable to fight infections. And sometimes the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells. This is known as an autoimmune disease. This kind of disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, can be very hard to deal with. Our topics can help you cope with immune system problems. We can also show you how to strengthen your immune system against common diseases.
Get the information you need in our immune system topics, such as:
- Acquired Von Willebrand Disease
- Addison's Disease
- Allergies to Insect Stings
- Allergies: Rush Immunotherapy
- Allergy Shots for Allergic Rhinitis
- Allergy Shots for Asthma
- Allergy Shots for Insect Stings
- Allergy to Natural Rubber (Latex)
- Antibiotics
- Antihistamines
- Antiretroviral Medicines for HIV
- Arthroplasty for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Arthroscopy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- CD4+ Cells
- Celiac Disease
- Chickenpox (Varicella)
- Chikungunya Fever
- Common Questions About the Flu Vaccine
- Comparing Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
- Complications of Lupus
- COVID-19: People Who Are at High Risk for Serious Illness
- Crohn's Disease
- Diabetes and Infections
- Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
- Ebola or Marburg Virus Infection
- Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
- Environmental Illness
- Fever or Chills, Age 11 and Younger
- Fever or Chills, Age 12 and Older
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- Helping Children During Immunizations
- Hidden Gluten
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Infection
- HIV and Exercise
- HIV and Fatigue
- HIV and Pregnancy
- HIV Home Care
- HIV Infection in Health Professionals
- HIV Screening
- HIV Treatment in Children
- HIV Viral Load
- HIV: Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
- HIV: Giving Support
- HIV: Nonprogressors and HIV-Resistant People
- HIV: Preventing Infections
- HIV: Preventing Other Infections When You Have HIV
- HIV: Stages of Infection
- HIV: Tips for Caregivers to Avoid Infection
- HIV: Why Healthy Eating Matters
- Hyperthyroidism
- Immunizations
- Immunizations and Pregnancy
- Immunizations for Premature Infants
- Immunizations That May Cause Fever
- Immunizations: Questions Parents Ask
- Immunoglobulin
- Importance of Immunizations
- Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or Recombinant): What You Need to Know
- Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Live, Intranasal): What You Need to Know
- Interactive Tools
- Intrauterine Fetal Blood Transfusion
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Pain Management
- Living With More Than One Health Problem
- Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
- Lupus and Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
- Lupus and Pregnancy
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
- Mononucleosis (Mono)
- Mononucleosis Complications
- Multi-Organ Transplants
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Managing Your Energy
- Necrotizing Fasciitis (Flesh-Eating Bacteria)
- Neutropenia: Preventing Infections
- Nonallergic Rhinitis
- Opportunistic Infections in HIV
- Organ Transplant
- Organ Transplants: Antirejection Medicines
- Peanut Allergy
- Phototherapy for Eczema
- Phototherapy for Psoriasis
- Pneumocystis Pneumonia and AIDS
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Preventing Tetanus Infections
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
- Pseudomonas Infection
- Psoriasis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Recombinant Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
- Resistance to HIV Medicines
- Rh Sensitization During Pregnancy
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Finger and Hand Surgeries
- Rubella (German Measles)
- Sarcoidosis
- Scleroderma
- Self-Care for AIDS Caregivers
- Sepsis (Septic Shock)
- Shingles
- Sjögren's Syndrome
- Staph Infection
- Swollen Glands, Hernias, and Other Lumps Under the Skin
- Swollen Lymph Nodes
- Synovectomy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Temporal Artery Biopsy
- Tetanus
- Thrush
- Travel Health
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vaccine Information Statements
- Vaccines to Prevent the Flu
- Valley Fever
- Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
- Ways HIV Cannot Be Spread
- Zika Virus
- Antibiotic Sensitivity Test
- Antibody Tests for Lupus
- Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) Test
- Autoimmune Disease Tests
- Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125) Test
- CD4+ Count Test
- Celiac Disease Antibodies Test
- Cold Agglutinins Test
- Complement Test
- Coombs Test
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test
- Fetal Blood Sampling (FBS) During Pregnancy
- Gallium Scan
- Hepatitis C Viral Load Test
- HIV Viral Load Test
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Test
- Immunoglobulins
- Mononucleosis Tests
- Rheumatoid Factor (RF) Test
- Rubella Test
- Sedimentation Rate (Sed Rate)
- Tissue Type Test
- Toxoplasmosis Test
- Viral Tests
Current as of: September 25, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.