HIV Wasting Syndrome Overview HIV wasting syndrome refers to a complication of the virus in which significant weight loss accompanies fever and weakness. It is a sign that HIV has caused severe damage to the immune system and progressed to stage 3, commonly known as AIDS. There are several potential causes, all of which are […]

Dyspnea Overview Dyspnea is the medical term for shortness of breath. It is a symptom of many conditions that affect the respiratory system. Shortness of breath can range from mild and temporary to serious and long lasting. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat dyspnea because there can be many different causes. It is […]

Sore Throat Overview A sore throat is a scratchy painful feeling in the back of your throat. A sore throat can make it painful to eat and even talk. The throat could also feel scratchy and irritated, which can worsen when swallowing. Many things cause sore throats, from bacterial and viral infections to allergies and […]

Rashes Overview A rash is any area of irritated or swollen skin on the body. Rashes are often itchy and painful and can appear differently on different skin tones. While they are often described as red, on darker skin tones they may be purple, gray, or white. Rashes are abnormal changes in skin color or texture. They […]

HIV and AIDS Overview The difference between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is that HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system. AIDS is a condition that can happen as a result of an HIV infection when the immune system is severely weakened. A person cannot get AIDS if they […]