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An HIV test is used to determine if someone has been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The test is commonly performed on a blood or saliva sample, but a urine-based test was approved for use in the United States in 2015. This article is part of Health Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Both point-of-care tests used in hospitals and clinics and at-home tests used at home are extremely accurate if used correctly....

Last week, the CDC updated its mask guidance, saying that fully vaccinated people could forego masks and social distancing both indoors and outdoors. This excludes areas where wearing masks is required by local or state law or workplace guidance. Key Takeaways The CDC announced new guidelines for fully vaccinated people, saying they can safely be indoors without masks on.Some major retailers have stopped requiring vaccinated people to wear masks in their stores....

The path to a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) can be frustrating. The condition is characterized by its symptoms and there is no single test that can confirm it. Complicating the issue even further is the fact that many CFS symptoms mirror those of other illnesses, including heart, lung, thyroid, and even psychiatric disorders. The condition is also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) or systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID). As a disease, chronic fatigue syndrome is diagnosed when other possible explanations for how you are feeling have been explored and excluded....

After witnessing the emotional impact of cancer treatments on her mom and two close friends, Lisa McKenzie knew she had to do something to help women with cancer. Key Takeaways Lisa McKenzie’s innovative idea to help women with cancer regain their self-confidence has earned her a prestigious award.Individuals undergoing cancer treatments can experience emotional challenges, including shame over their changed appearance.All cancer patients need support beyond medical therapy. “My mom had breast cancer my senior year of college,” McKenzie tells Verywell....

There is no cure for atopic dermatitis (eczema), but there are treatments that can help manage this common inflammatory skin condition. Regardless of the stage of the disease, self-care is important to relieve current symptoms and prevent future episodes and skin infections. This article discusses the different types of treatment for eczema. This includes over-the-counter therapies, prescriptions, specialist-driven procedures, and complementary medicine. Home Remedies and Lifestyle Eczema can be triggered or worsened by things you are sensitive to....

To diagnose food allergies, your healthcare provider first will talk to you about your reactions to certain foods and conduct a physical exam and detailed medical history. Skin prick tests or blood tests can be used to check for reactions to specific food allergens. An oral food challenge may be done if other testing is inconclusive. Ultimately, your practitioner will use all this information to diagnose you with food allergies....

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that must be consistently managed for symptom control. There currently is no cure for any form of the disease, but there are effective IBD treatment options that might provide you with relief. These include medications, lifestyle management, and, rarely, surgery. Treatments approved for IBD fall into two categories: those for Crohn’s disease and those for ulcerative colitis. If you have indeterminate colitis, the third type of IBD, you will typically take the treatments that are approved for ulcerative colitis....

Cancer is caused by genetic changes that trigger cells to grow out of control, but it is not usually hereditary. Cancer-causing genetic mutations in segments of DNA can be inherited or, more commonly, acquired over time. Inherited gene mutations are passed from parents’ reproductive cells (the egg or sperm) to their offspring—and are present in all body cells of the offspring. Acquired genetic mutations, on the other hand, originate in one cell due to things like cell division errors or exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing substances), like tobacco or radiation....

Hormonal changes that define the transition to menopause can cause minor or temporary issues, but also significant and longer-lasting ones that can affect your quality of life. As you work to manage physical symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia, it’s also important to find ways to cope with emotional ones, be them mood swings or challenges mentally adjusting to this new phase in your life. Emotional The emotional impact of menopause depends largely on an individual woman’s personal history and life circumstances, as well as other factors, but increased stress and mood swings are nearly universal....

Metaplastic breast cancer (metaplastic carcinoma of the breast) is a very uncommon type of breast cancer. It is a form of invasive ductal cancer, meaning that it forms in the milk ducts and then moves into other tissues of the breast. It can be aggressive and fast-growing, and relatively little is known about metaplastic breast cancer’s causes or long-term prognosis. Such cancers differ from other types of breast cancer in that metaplastic tumors often contain other types of tissue not normally found in the breast, for example, squamous cells (skin) or osseous cells (bone)....

Influenza (the flu) and infectious mononucleosis (mono) are common illnesses that share many overlapping symptoms, but these two illnesses have different causes and require different treatments. It is easy to mistake one for the other. Therefore, getting an accurate diagnosis is important to ensuring that you’re treating your illness properly. Causes Both the flu and mono are caused by viruses, but the viruses differ and are transmitted in different ways....

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is spread through the bite of infected ticks. Ticks are very small, and their bites—which can occur anywhere on the body—are usually painless, so you may not immediately be aware that you have been bitten. In most cases, the tick must be attached to the body for 24 hours before Lyme disease is transmitted. The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease usually start within three to 30 days after you’ve been bitten by an infected tick....

Pollen allergies, which are also often described as seasonal allergies, can cause symptoms such as sniffling, sneezing, and watery eyes. There are many types of pollen that come from trees, grass, weeds, and other plants. Trees typically pollinate in the spring, grasses in the summer, and weeds in the fall. However, this is not a hard and fast rule, as some species of plants pollinate outside of their expected seasons....

During pregnancy, rashes and skin changes are common. There are several possible reasons for why you’d experience a pregnancy rash, skin itching, or other related symptoms. Causes of pregnancy rash can range from simple heat rash to a serious underlying medical issue, such as liver or thyroid disease. Some people may already have a condition, such as eczema, that leads to a pregnancy rash, while others experience skin changes for the first time....

Sitting in the upper left abdomen where it’s protected by the rib cage, the spleen is the largest organ of the lymphatic system. Located just below the diaphragm and to the side of the lower portion of the stomach, this organ recycles old red blood cells (RBCs) and is a repository for platelets and white blood cells (WBCs). Clinically, the spleen can become enlarged (a condition called splenomegaly) due to a range of conditions, including cancer, pressure from the veins, and bacterial or viral infections....

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections passed through sexual contact. While some may be relatively mild, others can cause problems ranging from pain to infertility and cancer. This article outlines the signs and symptoms of an STD both on the penis and on other parts of the body. It also describes several non-STD-related conditions that can cause many of the same symptoms. Penile Symptoms STDs often cause symptoms that affect the penis or groin area....

If you live with a chronic or autoimmune disease such as inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), lupus, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, or psoriasis, you may be wondering if it is wise to get a tattoo. Whether or not it is safe to get a tattoo is a discussion that is best had with a healthcare professional. Several questions should be considered, including if the disease or condition is well controlled and if there is an increased risk of developing a complication, such as an infection....

Comorbidity is defined as two chronic diseases or conditions that occur simultaneously in one person. There is some evidence out there prompting many scientists and clinicians to label autism and gender dysphoria as comorbidities, but the potential of a relationship is murky. The biological relationship between gender dysphoria and autism is not well understood. And there’s a possibility that tying gender dysphoria to autism could lead to discrimination. Gender Dysphoria Plus Autism In recent years, our understanding, diagnoses, and terminology of both gender dysphoria and autism have evolved....

The history of HIV is filled with triumphs and failures as the world faced what would become the greatest global epidemic of modern times. What began with but a handful of infections grew to a pandemic that today affects over 36 million people worldwide. The HIV timeline began early in 1981 when the New York Times reported an outbreak of a rare form of cancer among gay men in New York and California....

Encephalitis—inflammation of the brain—can be primary or secondary. Primary encephalitis occurs when a virus infects the brain, while secondary encephalitis is caused by an infection from a different part of the body that traveled to the brain. The inflammation causes the brain to swell, which can lead to headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, mental confusion, and seizures. This requires immediate medical attention. There are several types of encephalitis, and they are a result of different types of viruses and other causes....