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HIV testing is typically a multi-step process. The first test used is generally a high sensitivity test. High sensitivity tests are designed to detect as many potential HIV infections as possible. That first test is then followed up by one or more highly specific tests to rule out possible false-positive HIV diagnoses. Historically, the most common of the highly specific tests used in confirmatory testing is the Western blot test. However, there are other confirmatory tests that are now preferred....

Updated mask guidance the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saying fully vaccinated people can resume regular activities without a mask or social distancing was a welcome change for some. But, due to a lack of clear instruction, many immunocompromised people who have been vaccinated were left wondering what they could safely do. Key Takeways New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that fully vaccinated people do not have to continue wearing masks....

Stuffy nose, sneezing, watery eyes. The symptoms of allergies are no fun, whether you are pregnant or not. Treating allergies during pregnancy requires some special considerations for the safety of your growing baby. Fortunately, there are several safe treatment options to choose from, including medications and alternative treatments. Allergy Symptoms During Pregnancy If you’ve struggled with allergy symptoms in the past, they are likely to persist or even worsen while you’re pregnant....

Tylenol, generically called acetaminophen, is a very popular and effective drug taken to relieve pain and reduce fever. Because it’s so well known (it’s been available since the 1950s) and it’s so common (it’s widely combined with other medications), it’s sometimes used carelessly which can lead to liver damage. Is Tylenol Safe? Tylenol is very safe when used as recommended. Many people with chronic hepatitis and other types of liver disease (who don’t regularly drink alcohol) can safely take the recommended doses of Tylenol; however, you should definitely check with your healthcare provider before taking Tylenol or any medication if you have liver disease, and do not take for more days than directed....

Mucus in the stool is a very common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While some mucus is normal, IBS mucus can be excessive and may be visible in the stool. Even though producing large amounts of mucus is common in people with IBS, scant research has been done about it. No one can say for sure why the mucus is there or what it means about your digestive system....

Lacunar strokes are strokes caused by the occlusion of a small branch of a larger blood vessel. Because of the way blood vessels divide in the brain, lacunar strokes tend to occur in areas located in the deeper parts of the brain, where many of the smaller blood vessel branches are located. As most brain areas perform a limited set of brain functions, the symptoms of a given lacunar stroke usually correspond to the area where the damage occurred....

Pregnancy is an exciting and unusual time during which your body will go through numerous changes. One change you may not expect is an increase in vaginal discharge, called leukorrhea. In most cases, this is a normal and healthy change. Still, sometimes it could be a sign of infection. Keep reading to learn more about what leukorrhea is, signs of infection, and tips for coping with increased vaginal discharge. What Is Leukorrhea?...

Are the eyes the window to whatever’s going wrong with the brain in fibromyalgia? Research published in 2015 and 2016 suggests that it just might be. Fibromyalgia is widely believed to be a condition of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. It also includes the light-sensing parts of our eyes and the structures that help our brains interpret what we see. Chief among these structures is the optic nerve, which is similar to a cable made up of many small fibers....

Anton syndrome is a rare condition found in people who have lost their vision after brain damage to the occipital lobes. The main characteristic of Anton syndrome is that these patients do not realize that they are blind. It occurs most often in patients who have had an occipital stroke. However, Anton syndrome can also be a complication of other diseases that impact the brain. This article provides more information about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of Anton syndrome....

Consumer online posts and content can help identify food safety concerns, and possibly reduce the risk of a foodborne illness, according to new research. Key Takeaways Using information found online via posts and reviews can help researchers identify foodborne illness outbreaks, according to a recent study. Foodborne illness is a major concern in the United States, and exposure to contaminated food can result in outcomes like diarrhea and vomiting.Although foodborne illness outbreaks occur every year, many go unreported....

Prediabetes is when blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are too high to be considered normal but not enough to be diabetes. Hormonal differences make this condition different between men and women. For example, women are more likely than men to develop diabetes-related complications such as vascular disease. Learn more about the symptoms of prediabetes in girls and women. How Do You Know If You Have Borderline Diabetes? Over 80% of people with borderline diabetes or prediabetes do not know they have it....

Research has shown that there may be a link between prostate cancer and breast cancer. A family history of breast cancer is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Certain genetic mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer may result in an increased risk of prostate cancer in men. And there are also similar biological processes that can contribute to the development of both of these types of cancers....

Kids get arthritis. In fact, according to the Arthritis Foundation, about 300,000 kids and teens in the United States have chronic arthritis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Fortunately, it is much more common that kids have aches and pains that are not caused by arthritis, especially when they have growing pains. Still, arthritis is often the first thing many parents think of when the kids have joint pain. That makes it important to understand the signs and symptoms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis so that you can avoid unnecessary tests and get your child diagnosed if they do indeed have JIA....

Unfortunately, COPD does not take the holiday season off, and many patients are forced to spend Christmas in the hospital. If you or a loved one are faced with an unexpected hospitalization, remember you don’t have to feel shut off from the celebration. Adding some yuletide touches to your hospital room and surrounding yourself with friends and family may be just the seasonal ticket needed to get you through this tough time....

Heart transplantation is the gold standard treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. This means no treatment is considered better. The good news is that more people who need a heart transplant are getting one. For many years, only 2,000 to 2,500 patients a year received a new heart. Over the past couple of decades, that number has been rising. In 2021, 3,817 people in the United States received heart transplants....

The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its recommendation on colorectal cancer screening. It now recommends that individuals at average risk for colorectal cancer begin routine screenings at age 45 instead of 50. Key Takeaways The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its guidelines for colorectal cancer screenings. Individuals at average risk for colorectal cancer should start having routine screenings at age 45.The previous recommendation was for routine colorectal cancer screenings to begin at age 50; however, with more cases being diagnosed in younger people, the task force decided to change the guidelines....

There are several causes of dementia. Some causes may be reversible, such as the ones associated with certain medications, B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, syphilis, depression, and normal pressure hydrocephalus. Other causes are not reversible and knowing which type of dementia a patient has can help physicians tailor their care appropriately. Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia. It accounts for roughly two-thirds of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that is characterized by depositions of abnormal proteins in the brain in the form of plaques and tangles....

Vitamin D is often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin” because it is produced by your body when your skin is exposed to the sun. Since vitamin D helps to keep your bones strong, a deficiency can lead to bone softening and subsequent bone pain and fractures. While vitamin D deficiency is unfortunately very common, the good news is that this health condition can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and treated with supplements....

To curb the surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, President Joe Biden said it’s critical to make rapid at-home test kits more widely available at a lower cost. Key Takeaways The Biden administration plans to increase the availability of rapid at-home COVID-19 tests.Experts say that increasing testing capacity will be key to quelling the pandemic.Rapid COVID-19 tests can be less sensitive than laboratory-based PCR tests and they shouldn’t be used as a replacement for vaccination and mask use....

Antihistamines can be great at relieving allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. While the drugs are generally regarded as safe, they are not without side effects. One possible side effect—and one that people don’t often think about—is the risk of weight gain with over-the-counter antihistamines like Allegra (fexofenadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine). This article explores the association between antihistamines and weight gain and offers some rational explanations as to why this occurs....