Share
- FACEBOOK
- TWITTER
- EMAIL
- STUMBLEUPON
- PINTEREST
- TUMBLR
- DIGG
- LINKED IN
- DELICIOUS
Print

Immune System

Learn about the immune system

Photo of a woman getting a shot in her arm

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:

More Information

Health Topics
Acquired Von Willebrand's Disease Addison's Disease Allergic Reaction Allergic Reaction to Tattoo Dye Allergic Rhinitis Allergies to Insect Stings Allergies: Rush Immunotherapy Allergy Kit Allergy Shots (Immunotherapy) for Allergic Rhinitis Allergy Shots (Immunotherapy) for Asthma Allergy to Natural Rubber (Latex) Alopecia Areata: Psoralen With Ultraviolet A Light (PUVA) Therapy Ankylosing Spondylitis Antibody Tests for Lupus Antihistamines Antihistamines for Severe Allergic Reactions Antithyroid Antibodies Test Arthroplasty for Rheumatoid Arthritis Arthroscopy for Rheumatoid Arthritis Assessing Your Asthma Knowledge Asthma Action Plan Asthma Diary Asthma in Children Asthma in Teens and Adults Asthma: Overuse of Quick-Relief Medicines Asthma: Ways to Take Inhaled Medicines Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) CD4+ Cells Celiac Disease Celiac Disease Complications Chickenpox (Varicella) Chickenpox: Preventing Skin Infections Choosing an Insulin Pump Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic Fatigue: Antidepressants Chronic Fatigue: Changing Your Schedule Chronic Fatigue: Getting Support Classification of Juvenile Arthritis Coal Tar for Atopic Dermatitis Comparing Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis Complement Test for Lupus Complications of Lupus Contact Immunotherapy for Hair Loss Controlling Indoor Allergens Corticosteroid Treatment for Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis Counseling for HIV Infection Crohn's Disease Cyclosporine for Atopic Dermatitis Dealing With Mold Allergies Dehydration: Drinking Enough Fluids Dehydration: Drinking Extra Fluids Diabetes and Infections Drug Allergies Drug-Induced Lupus Environmental Illness Environmental Illness in Children Environmental Illness: Evaluating Your Home or Workplace Fever, Age 11 and Younger Fever, Age 12 and Older Flu Complications Flu Vaccine Myths Flu: Signs of Bacterial Infection Food Allergies Food Allergies and Atopic Dermatitis Food Allergies: Names for Common Allergens Gluten-Free Diet for Celiac Disease Guillain-Barré Syndrome Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Immunotherapy Health Tracking Forms and Checklists Helping Children During Immunizations Hemophilia: Treatment for People Who Have Inhibitors Henna Tattoos (Mehndi) 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 How Asthma Develops in Children Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism: Age-Related Symptoms Hyperthyroidism: Graves' Ophthalmopathy Hyperthyroidism: Medicines for Symptoms Immunization Safety 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 (Seasonal Flu) Interactive Tools Interferon Gamma for Atopic Dermatitis Intrauterine Fetal Blood Transfusion for Rh Disease Joint Replacement: Realistic Expectations 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 SSARD 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 Monitoring Asthma Treatment Mononucleosis (Mono) Mononucleosis Complications Mouth Sores Necrotizing Fasciitis (Flesh-Eating Bacteria) Omalizumab for Asthma 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 and Giant Cell Arteritis Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet Light Therapy (PUVA) for Atopic Dermatitis Psoriasis 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 Sarcoidosis Scleroderma Self-Care for AIDS Caregivers Self-Care for Sjögren's Syndrome Sepsis (Septic Shock) Shingles Sjögren's Syndrome Stem Cell Transplant for Lupus Swollen Glands and Other Lumps Under the Skin Synovectomy for Rheumatoid Arthritis Tattoos: Reporting Problems Temporal Artery Biopsy Tetanus Thrush Thyroid Hormone Replacement for Hypothyroidism Travel Health Treating a Severe Allergic Reaction Treating Tuberculosis in People With HIV Tuberculosis in People With HIV Types of Hair Loss Ulcerative Colitis Vaccine Information Statements Valley Fever Ways HIV Cannot Be Spread

Medical Tests
Allergy Tests Antibody Tests (Coombs Test) Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125) CD4+ Count Cold Agglutinins C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Test Immunoglobulins Mononucleosis Tests Rheumatoid Factor (RF) Sedimentation Rate (Sed Rate) Tissue Type Test Toxoplasmosis Test Viral Load Measurement Viral Tests

Medications
Anthralin for Psoriasis Anticholinergics for Asthma Antihistamines for Allergic Rhinitis Antimalarial Medicines for Lupus Antimalarials for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Antimalarials for Rheumatoid Arthritis Azathioprine for Rheumatoid Arthritis Azoles for Treating Thrush Biologics for Ankylosing Spondylitis Biologics for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Biologics for Psoriasis Biologics for Rheumatoid Arthritis Calcipotriene for Psoriasis Cevimeline for Sjögren's Syndrome Combination Vaccine for Hepatitis A and B Corticosteroids for Allergic Rhinitis Corticosteroids for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Corticosteroids for Lupus Corticosteroids for Polymyalgia Rheumatica or Giant Cell Arteritis Corticosteroids for Psoriasis Corticosteroids for Rheumatoid Arthritis Cyclophosphamide Cyclophosphamide for Rheumatoid Arthritis Cyclosporine for Psoriasis Cyclosporine for Rheumatoid Arthritis Cyclosporine Ophthalmic for Sjögren's Syndrome Decongestants for Allergic Rhinitis Entry Inhibitors for HIV Eyedrops for Allergic Rhinitis Gold Salts for Rheumatoid Arthritis Hydroxychloroquine for Sjögren's Syndrome Immunomodulators for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Immunosuppressive Medicines for Lupus Inhaled Corticosteroids for Long-Term Control of Asthma Integrase Inhibitors for HIV Interferon for Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus) Ipratropium Bromide for Allergic Rhinitis Leflunomide for Rheumatoid Arthritis Leukotriene Modifiers for Allergic Rhinitis Leukotriene Pathway Modifiers for Long-Term Control of Asthma Long-Acting Beta2-Agonists for Long-Term Control of Asthma Mast Cell Stabilizers for Long-Term Control of Asthma Methotrexate Methotrexate for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Methotrexate for Psoriasis Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis Minocycline for Rheumatoid Arthritis Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) for HIV Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors for HIV Penicillamine for Rheumatoid Arthritis Pilocarpine for Sjögren's Syndrome Polyenes for Treating Thrush Protease Inhibitors (PIs) for HIV Psoralen and UVA Light Therapy (PUVA) for Psoriasis Retinoids for Psoriasis Rh Immune Globulin Short-Acting Beta2-Agonists for Quick Relief of Asthma Symptoms Sulfasalazine for Ankylosing Spondylitis Sulfasalazine for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Sulfasalazine for Rheumatoid Arthritis Systemic Corticosteroids for Relief During Asthma Attacks Tars for Psoriasis Theophylline for Long-Term Control of Asthma

Make a Wise Decision
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? HIV: When Should I Start Taking Antiretroviral Medicines for HIV Infection? Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine? Shingles: Should I Get a Shot to Prevent Shingles? STI Testing: Should I Get Tested For a Sexually Transmitted Infection?

Take Action
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 Asthma in Children: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask Spacer Asthma: Identifying Your Triggers Asthma: Taking Charge of Your Asthma Asthma: Using an Asthma Action Plan Atopic Dermatitis: Taking Care of Your Skin Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Using Graded Exercise to Get More Energy HIV: Taking Antiretroviral Drugs Psoriasis: Skin, Scalp, and Nail Care

Credits

By:

Healthwise Staff

Last Revised: August 24, 2011

Medical Review:

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise 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. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

Change Location

Immune System

Topic Contents

I Want to...

Other Cigna Sites for...

Solutions for...

Products & Services

Join Us Online