Shingles is a neurological condition that typically begins as burning or pain along a path, on one side of the body. A rash later appears along the same path. It may be present on the face or on the trunk of the body. Rarely, shingles becomes...
Chemotherapy is the use of toxic drugs to treat cancer. There are a number of classes of chemotherapy agents which affect different cellular structures. All chemotherapeutic agents, however, work by preventing essential cellular processes to kill...
Shingles and chickenpox are both caused by the varicella-zoster virus. In about 10 percent of individuals who have had chickenpox, the virus reactivates years later as herpes zoster or shingles, according to the American Academy of Family...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are a class of cells that make up the blood which contribute to the immune system. There are five main classes of white blood cells, all of which have a unique structure and function within the blood. In...
The human immunodeficiency virus, HIV infects many cells of the immune system and causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. The treatment guidelines developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or DHHS, advocate...
The combination of the generically named medications zidovudine and lamivudine are marketed in the United States as Combivir. This combination drug may be prescribed in the treatment of human immunodeficiency viral infections. It functions,...
The generically named tenofovir medication is sold in the United States with the brand name Viread. It is part of the treatment for human immunodeficiency viral, or HIV, infections, the Mayo Clinic reports. Viread also may be used in the...
Garlic comes as a plump package of individual cloves that once cut, reek of its beneficial properties. Garlic has been used for thousands of years as an antiseptic and healing agent. The Food and Drug Administration classifies garlic as a low...
Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, results in a life-threatening condition that compromises the body's immune system. The Mayo Clinic states that more than 39.5 million people have contracted HIV. Without treatment, HIV can...
Nails are comprised of hardened, living skin cells and may be affected by illness and physical ailments. One sign of a possible problem is a change in the color of the toenail. Discoloration of the toenails may be due to a variety of reasons. Once...
Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a virus that, without treatment, will ultimately lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. HIV damages the immune system by destroying specific blood cells known as CD4+ T cells, which are...
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that destroys the immune system and causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is the final and most serious stage of HIV infection. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...
Kaletra is an oral prescription medication for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus in people who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is a combination drug consisting of lopinavir and ritonavir. The function of ritonavir in this...
Glutamine is an amino acid essential for muscle strength. It serves as a building block to protein, helping to synthesize this nutrient in the body. Due to its necessity in the maintenance of muscles, questions still remain about this amino acid's...
Levitra is a brand name prescription drug indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It contains the generic medication vardenafil hydrochloride and is available in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg and 20 mg tablets. The drug is normally taken one hour...
Cancer chemotherapy makes use of highly toxic drugs to damage and kill cancer cells. Although they effectively treat many forms of cancer, chemotherapy drugs typically lead to a wide range of side effects. Patients undergoing chemotherapy may...
There are many diseases caused by blood-borne pathogens. A needle stick injury, injury from a sharp instrument contaminated with blood or body fluids, and intimate contact are ways that people are exposed to these pathogens. In the event of...
Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, causes an initial flu-like illness in 40 to 90 percent of patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness--described synonymously as acute HIV infection...
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, is a life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. This virus attacks the immune system, allowing the infected person to be more susceptible to other viruses, bacteria...
Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, can be sexually transmitted or contracted through blood-to-blood contamination. The virus targets and destroys CD4 helper lymphocytes, or T-cells that protect the body from infection. There is no cure, but...
AIDS stands for acquired immunity deficiency syndrome. It occurs as the end stage of the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. While treatment has become available for millions of people, many people remain undiagnosed and remain unaware they...
While bruises can turn the skin black, they seldom itch unless there is an accompanying infection. Any itching that's associated with a black bruise should be seen by a doctor to prevent the spread of an infection. More often, however, black itchy...
The human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, infects many cells of the immune system eventually leading to the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. There is no cure for AIDS; however anti-retroviral treatment markedly reduces the...
Heroin, one of the most addictive opiates, can cause a long-term and chronic disease of the drug addiction. Opiates.com reports heroin as one of the most addictive substances and rates it as the most influential in the "war on drugs." The...
Oleander, a small shrub or tree that produces white, pink, red or purple flowers, is extremely poisonous. Every part of the plant, including the nectar, causes side effects that can kill you. Even eating honey contaminated by bees eating the...
The use of oral supplementation has clear results in preventing the progressive weight loss often seen in human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, infection. Pharmacological treatment becomes vital when serum lipids are chronically elevated for an...
Mycobutin is the only U.S. brand name for the generic rifabutin. It is used in the treatment of advanced stages of human immunodeficiency virus infections and in others who have depleted immune systems. Rifabutin may help to prevent mycobacterium...
Natural fruits are good for you, but even limited amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice may be harmful if you take certain medications, according to MayoClinic.com. And too much grapefruit or grapefruit juice can cause side effects in...
AIDS and TB are serious communicable diseases that necessitate treatment. Ongoing physician appointments, laboratory testing and good self-care practices are also important components of disease management for both conditions. AIDS and TB are...
Primary immunodeficiency disorders, also called primary immune disorders, are immune system defects that can permit recurrent infections and other problems. Learn about immunodeficiency symptoms, treatments and diagnosis in this video on health...
