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immune system
learn about the immune system
the immune system is the body's natural defence 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
- allergic reaction to tattoo dye
- allergies to insect stings
- allergies: rush immunotherapy
- allergy shots for allergic rhinitis
- allergy shots for asthma
- 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 influenza (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
- flu: signs of bacterial infection
- guillain-barré syndrome
- helping children during immunizations
- hidden gluten
- hiv (human immunodeficiency virus) infection
- hiv and exercise
- hiv and fatigue
- hiv and pregnancy
- hiv and weight loss
- 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: non-progressors 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
- immunotherapy for allergies to insect stings
- importance of immunizations
- indirect coombs test
- interactive tools
- intrauterine fetal blood transfusion
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis: deciding about total joint replacement
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis: inflammatory eye disease
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis: pain management
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis: range-of-motion exercises
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis: stretching and strengthening exercises
- living with more than one health problem
- lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus)
- lupus and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
- lupus and pregnancy
- lupus: criteria for diagnosis
- lupus: healthy eating
- methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa)
- mononucleosis (mono)
- mononucleosis complications
- mouth sores
- multi-organ transplants
- multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (mis-c)
- myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
- myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: getting support
- myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: managing your energy
- necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating bacteria)
- neutropenia: preventing infections
- non-allergic rhinitis
- opportunistic infections in hiv
- organ transplant
- organ transplants: anti-rejection 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
- resistance to hiv medicines
- rh sensitization during pregnancy
- rheumatoid arthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis: classification criteria
- rheumatoid arthritis: finger and hand surgeries
- rheumatoid arthritis: neck symptoms
- rheumatoid arthritis: systemic symptoms
- 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
- types of hair loss
- ulcerative colitis
- vaccines to prevent influenza (flu)
- valley fever
- vancomycin-resistant enterococci (vre)
- ways hiv cannot be spread
- yellow fever and recommended immunizations
- 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
all healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.