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Immune System
Learn about the immune system

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
- Allergic Reaction
- Allergic Reaction to Tattoo Dye
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Allergies to Insect Stings
- Allergies: Rush Immunotherapy
- Allergy Shots for Allergic Rhinitis
- Allergy Shots for Asthma
- Allergy to Natural Rubber (Latex)
- Alopecia Areata: Psoralen With Ultraviolet A Light (PUVA) Therapy
- Antibiotic Sensitivity Test
- Antibiotics
- Antibody Tests for Lupus
- Antihistamines
- Antiretroviral medicines for HIV
- Antithyroid Antibodies Test
- Arthroplasty for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Arthroscopy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
- CD4+ Cells
- Celiac Disease
- Celiac Disease Complications
- Chickenpox (Varicella)
- Chikungunya Fever
- Chronic Fatigue: Antidepressants
- Chronic Fatigue: Changing Your Schedule
- Chronic Fatigue: Getting Support
- Classification of Juvenile Arthritis
- Comparing Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
- Complement Test for Lupus
- Complications of Lupus
- Contact Immunotherapy for Hair Loss
- Counseling for HIV Infection
- Crohn's Disease
- Diabetes and Infections
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- Drug-Induced Lupus
- Environmental Illness
- Fever or Chills, Age 11 and Younger
- Fever or Chills, Age 12 and Older
- Flu Vaccine Myths
- Flu: Signs of Bacterial Infection
- Food Allergies
- Gluten-Free Diet for Celiac Disease
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Immunotherapy
- Helping Children During Immunizations
- Hidden Gluten
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Infection
- HIV and AIDS: Who Is Affected
- HIV and Cytomegalovirus
- HIV and Exercise
- HIV and Fatigue
- HIV and Pregnancy
- HIV and Weight Loss
- HIV Home Care
- HIV Screening
- HIV Symptoms in Children
- 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: Risks of Sexual Contact
- HIV: Stages of Infection
- HIV: Tips for Caregivers to Avoid Infection
- HIV: Why Healthy Eating Matters
- HIV-2
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism: Age-Related Symptoms
- Hyperthyroidism: Medicines for Symptoms
- Immunizations
- Immunizations and Pregnancy
- Immunizations for Premature Infants
- Immunizations: Questions Parents Ask
- Immunoglobulin
- Immunotherapy for Allergies to Insect Stings
- Importance of Immunizations
- Indirect Coombs Test
- Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or Recombinant): What You Need to Know
- Interactive Tools
- Intrauterine Fetal Blood Transfusion for Rh Disease
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Symptoms
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Adult Treatments That May Be Used in Children
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Balancing Rest and Activity
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Deciding About Total Joint Replacement
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Features of DMARD and SAARD Drugs
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Growth Problems
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Inflammatory Eye Disease
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Pain Management
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Range-of-Motion Exercises
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: School Partners
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Serial Casting
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Soft Tissue Release of Contracture
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Stretching and Strengthening Exercises
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Total Joint Replacement
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Treatment With Heat, Cold, or Water
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Vitamin D and Calcium
- 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
- 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 Atopic Dermatitis
- Phototherapy for Psoriasis
- Physical Exam for Mononucleosis
- Physical Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Pneumocystis Pneumonia and AIDS
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
- Pseudomonas Infection
- Psoriasis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Recombinant Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine, RZV: What you need to know
- 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: Other Causes of Joint Pain
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Systemic Symptoms
- Risk Factors for HIV Infection
- Rubella (German Measles)
- Sarcoidosis
- Scleroderma
- Self-Care for AIDS Caregivers
- Self-Care for Sjögren's Syndrome
- Sepsis
- Shingles
- Sjögren's Syndrome
- Staph Infection
- Stem Cell Transplant for Lupus
- Swollen Glands, Hernias, and Other Lumps Under the Skin
- Swollen Lymph Nodes
- Synovectomy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Temporal Artery Biopsy
- Tetanus
- Thrush
- Travel Health
- Treating Tuberculosis in People With HIV
- Tuberculosis in People With HIV
- Types of Hair Loss
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Vaccine Information Statements
- Vaccines to Prevent the Flu
- Valley Fever
- Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
- Ways HIV Cannot Be Spread
- Zika Virus
- Allergy Tests
- Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)
- Autoimmune Disease Tests
- Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125)
- CD4+ Count
- Celiac Disease Antibodies
- Cold Agglutinins
- Coombs Antibody Test (Indirect and Direct)
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
- Gallium Scan
- HIV Viral Load Measurement
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Test
- Immunoglobulins
- Mononucleosis Tests
- Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
- Rubella Test
- Sedimentation Rate (Sed Rate)
- Tissue Type Test
- Toxoplasmosis Test
- Viral Tests
- Allergies: Should I Take Allergy Shots?
- Allergies: Should I Take Shots for Insect Sting Allergies?
- Flu Vaccines: Should I Get a Flu Vaccine?
- Flu: Should I Take Antiviral Medicine?
- HIV Testing: Should I Get Tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus?
- HPV: Should I Get the Vaccine?
- Shingles: Should I Get a Shot to Prevent Shingles?
- Allergies in Children: Giving an Epinephrine Shot to a Child
- Allergies: Avoiding Indoor Triggers
- Allergies: Avoiding Outdoor Triggers
- Allergies: Giving Yourself an Epinephrine Shot
- Arthritis: Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis
- HIV: Taking Antiretroviral Drugs
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Using Graded Exercise to Get More Energy
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Using Healthy Thinking
Current as of: October 9, 2017
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine