Health Links

Government Web Sites with Information on Immunity and Infection

General Information on Immunity and Infection

Allergies and Asthma

Autoimmune Disorders

Emerging Infections

STDs General Information

HIV/AIDS General Information

HIV/AIDS Treatment Information

HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development

Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Safer Sex Information

Other Specific Diseases and Conditions

Government Web sites with Information on Immunity and Infection (good places to start)

CDC National Center for Infectious Diseases (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod) Provides extensive information on a wide variety of infectious diseases and disease issues; the http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/index.htm A to Z listing of diseases and program areas is an easy way to locate resources for particular diseases and topics.

CDC National Immunization Program (http://www.cdc.gov/nip) Extensive information and answers to frequently asked questions about immunizations.

CDC Travel Information (http://www.cdc.gov/travel) Provides up-to-date information about immunization recommendations and current outbreaks for people planning international travel.

MedlinePlus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus) Provides links to information from government agencies and key professional associations; see especially the listings for http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infections.html Infections and http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystemaids.html Immune System/AIDS.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (http://www.niaid.nih.gov) Presents information about many topics relating to allergies and infectious diseases; http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications online publications cover topics such as asthma, autoimmune diseases, STDs, colds and flu, and Lyme disease. A detailed brochure called http://rex.nci.nih.gov/PATIENTS/INFO_TEACHER/bookshelf/NIH_immune/index.html Understanding the Immune System is also available.

World Health Organization (WHO): Health Topics (http://www.who.int/home/map_ht.html) Provides information about many key infectious diseases and efforts to control them; see also the WHO site http://www.who.int/health_topics/idindex Action Against Infectious Diseases.

General Information on Immunity and Infection

Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (http://www.healthsci.tufts.edu/apua/apua.html) Provides information on antibiotics and their proper usage as well as tips for avoiding infections.

American Lung Association (http://www.lungusa.org) Provides materials on a variety of lung diseases, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, influenza, and asthma.

American Society of Microbiology (http://www.asmusa.org) Resources geared toward the public include a library and images and an introduction to microbes. The society also sponsors the http://www.microbeworld.org/mlc online exhibit MicrobeWorld and the http://www.washup.org Clean Hands Campaign.

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology: Consumer Information (http://www.apic.org/cons) Provides consumer-oriented brochures on a number of infectious disease topics.

Bugs in the News! (http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~jbrown/bugs.html) Provides information about microbiology-allergies, antibodies, antibiotics, mad cow disease, and more-in easy-to-understand language.

Cells Alive! (http://www.cellsalive.com) Includes micrographs of immune cells and pathogens at work.

Epidemic! The World of Infectious Diseases (http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/epidemic) An online exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History that provides information on the different types of pathogens and an extensive set of links.

Immunization Action Coalition (http://www.immunize.org) Promotes vaccination for children and adults; site includes extensive information about currently available immunizations (in many different languages).

Immunization for Seniors (http://www.immunizeseniors.org) Provides information about immunization for older adults and their families.

Infectious Disease News (http://www.slackinc.com/general/idn/idnhome.htm) An online version of a publication focusing on infectious disease topics and trends.

MD Choice: Photo Rounds (http://www.mdchoice.com/photo/phototoc.asp) Includes images of selected infectious diseases, including the rashes associated with Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (http://www.nfid.org) Provides information about a variety of diseases and disease issues.

National Jewish Medical and Research Center (http://www.NationalJewish.org) Provides general information on respiratory, allergic, and immune system diseases, including asthma, tuberculosis, allergies, and autoimmune diseases.

University of Arizona Biology Project (http://www.biology.arizona.edu) Provides interactive resources for learning a variety of biology topics, including immunology and cell biology.

University of Wisconsin, Madison Campus: Institute for Molecular Virology (http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/Welcome.html) Provides resources relating to virology, including images of viruses, news and journal articles, and links.

Virology on the World Wide Web (http://www.virology.net) Provides information and links to sites focusing on viruses; the related http://www.tulane.edu/~dmsander/Big_Virology/BVHomePage.html Big Picture Book of Viruses includes many images.

Allergies and Asthma

Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics (http://www.aanma.org) Provides information and support for patients and their families, including materials on medications, products, and current research.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (http://www.aaaai.org) Provides extensive consumer-oriented information and publications about allergies and asthma; the http://www.aaaai.org/nab/default.stm National Allergy Bureau provides current pollen counts from stations throughout the United States.

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (http://allergy.mcg.edu) Provides information for patients and physicians, including an extensive glossary of terms related to allergies and asthma.

American Lung Association: Asthma (http://www.lungusa.org/asthma/index.html) Provides information about asthma causes and management; includes a special section for kids with asthma.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (http://www.aafa.org) Provides consumer-oriented educational materials about asthma and allergies.

Breath of Life (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/breath/breathhome.html) Sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, this online exhibit on asthma provides a history of the condition along with current perspectives on treatment.

Food Allergy Network (http://www.foodallergy.org) Provides information and online publications relating to food allergies.

Global Initiative for Asthma (http://www.ginasthma.com) Includes a directory of patient organizations and a pocket guide to the management of asthma.

Journal of the American Medical Association Asthma Center (http://www.ama-assn.org/special/asthma) Provides daily news summaries, patient information, expert advice, and glossaries.

MedicAlert (http://www.medicalert.org) An emergency medical information service sometimes used by people with a severe allergy to food, medication, or insects. Members wear a bracelet or pendant that indicates a medical condition and provides a phone number for emergency medical personnel to obtain additional information.

MedlinePlus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus) Provides links to information from government agencies and key professional associations; see especially the listings for http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy.html Allergy, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asthma.html Asthma, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foodallergy.html Food Allergy, and http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hives.html Hives.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): Asthma Information (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/index.htm) Provides materials about asthma for the general public.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): Publications (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications) Provides many fact sheets and brochures on allergies and asthma.

Autoimmune Disorders

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (http://www.aarda.org) Provides news and information about autoimmune disorders.

Arthritis Foundation (http://ww.arthritis.org) Provides resources and fact sheets for many types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Educational materials, community service programs, and current research topics are highlighted.

Lupus Foundation of America (http://www.lupus.org) Provides information and advocacy relating to lupus, a common autoimmune disorder.

MedlinePlus: Autoimmune Diseases (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autoimmunediseasesgeneral.html) Provides information and links on a variety of autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.

NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (http://www.nih.gov/niams/healthinfo) Provides information on a number of immune system-related problems, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Lyme disease.

Emerging Infections

CDC NCID: New, Reemerging, and Drug-Resistant Infections (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eidtopics.htm) Includes information on a wide variety of issues and diseases as well as an http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/index.htm online journal with articles on emerging infections and prevention issues. The http://www.cdc.gov/health/diseases.htm CDC A-Z index of diseases had links to disease-specific information for emerging infections.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): Emerging Infections (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/eid.htm) Provides information on research into controlling emerging infections.

World Health Day 1997: Emerging Infectious Diseases (http://www.aawhworldhealth.org/wheal97.htm) Provides background information on emerging infectious diseases and fact sheets on reducing the risk of spreading disease.

World Health Organization: Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response (http://www.who.int/emc/index.html) Provides information about emerging and tropical diseases, including current outbreaks; a WHO http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact097.html fact sheet on new and reemerging infectious diseases provides a general background to the problem and a list of recently recognized pathogens. http://www.who.int/health-topics/idindex World Health Organization: Infectious Diseases page includes links to information on a variety of infections.

STDs General Information

Alan Guttmacher Institute: Sexually Transmitted Disease and AIDS (http://www.agi-usa.org/sections/std.html) Provides fact sheets and other information about STDs and prevention.

American College Health Association (http://www.acha.org) Produces brochures on STDs, alcohol use, acquaintance rape, and other college health issues.

American Social Health Association (ASHA) (http://www.ashastd.org) Provides written information and referrals on STDs; sponsors support groups for people with herpes and HPV. The joint ASHA/Kaiser Family Foundation report entitled http://www.kff.org/archive/repro/policy/std/std_rep.html Sexually Transmitted Diseases in America: How Many Cases and at What Cost? outlines the current incidence of STDs in the United States.

CDC Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/dstdp.html) Provides statistics and information about the prevention and treatment of STDs.

CDC National Prevention Information Network (http://www.cdcnpin.org) Provides extensive information and links on HIV/AIDS and other STDs.

Go Ask Alice (http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu) Sponsored by the Columbia University Health Service, this sexual health portion of this site provides answers to student questions about sexually transmitted diseases, condoms, safer sex, and related topics.

Journal of the American Medical Association STDs Center (http://www.ama-assn.org/special/std) Provides daily news summaries, patient information, expert advice, and glossaries.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (http://www.niaid.nih.gov) Provides up-to-date publications about STDs and information on current research.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (http://www.plannedparenthood.org) Provides information on STDs and contraception.

WHO: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (http://www.who.int/health-topics/std.htm) Provides information on international statistics and prevention efforts.

HIV/AIDS General Information

AIDS 101.Com (http://www.aids101.com) Provides information about HIV/AIDS and serves as a community for friends and relatives of people who have HIV/AIDS

AIDS Clock (http://www.unfpa.org/modules/aidsclock/index.htm) Sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund, this site is a counter tracking the current number of people infected with HIV worldwide.

AIDS: The Agony of Africa (http://www.villagevoice.com/specials/africa) A Pulitzer Prize-winning series of articles in the Village Voice.

AVERT: AIDS Education and Research Trust (http://www.avert.org) Provides statistics, information, personal stories, and many other resources related to HIV/AIDS.

The Body/A Multimedia AIDS and HIV Information Resource (http://www.thebody.com) Provides basic information about HIV-prevention, testing, treatment-and links to related sites; includes an http://www.thebody.com/surveys/sexsurvey.html online HIV/STDs risk assessment.

CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/hiv_aids/dhap.htm) Provides statistics, fact sheets, answers to frequently asked questions, links to related sites, and many other HIV/AIDS resources.

Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (http://www.caps.ucsf.edu) Information on, and evaluation of, various approaches to HIV prevention.

FDA: Testing Yourself for HIV-1, the Virus that Causes AIDS (http://www.fda.gov/cber/infosheets/hiv-home2.htm) Provides information about approved and unapproved home testing kids for HIV.

Harvard AIDS Institute (http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hai/home.html) Provides resources and links on research into basic aspects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

HIV InSite: Gateway to AIDS Knowledge (http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu) Provides information about prevention, education, testing, treatment, statistics, clinical trials, and new developments. The http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite.jsp?page=pr-04-03 AIDS Basics section provides answers to frequently asked questions about transmission, symptoms, and prevention.

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (http://www.unaids.org) Provides statistics and information on the international HIV/AIDS situation; site features individual country profiles that include general health data as well as estimates of the number of AIDS deaths, AIDS orphans, and people currently living with HIV/AIDS.

Journal of the American Medical Association HIV/AIDS Center (http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv) Provides daily news summaries, patient information, expert advice, and glossaries.

Kaiser Family Foundation Daily HIV/AIDS Report (http://report.kff.org/aidshiv) Provides daily news on HIV/AIDS.

NAMES Project Foundation AIDS Memorial Quilt (http://www.aidsquilt.org) Includes the story behind the quilt, images of quilt panels, and information and links relating to HIV infection.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): AIDS Publications (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/aids.htm) Includes fact sheets, brochures, and research news about HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS Treatment Information

AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service (ACTIS) (http://www.actis.org)

AIDS Map (http://www.aidsmap.com)

Critical Path AIDS Project (http://www.critpath.org)

FDA HIV/AIDS Page (http://www.fda.gov/oashi/aids/hiv.html)

HIV/AIDS Treatment Directory (http://www.amfar.org/td)

HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service (ATIS) (http://www.hivatis.org)

Project Inform (http://www.projectinform.org)

HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development

ACTIS HIV Vaccine Information (http://www.actis.org)

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (http://www.iavi.org)

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID): AIDS Vaccines (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/aidsvaccine)

Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases Many of the general sites listed above provide extensive information on individual STDs; see especially the following:

American Social Health Association STDs information (http://www.ashastd.org/stdfaqs)

CDC National Prevention Information Network (http://www.cdcnpin.org)

NIAID STDs Information (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/stds.htm)

CDC: Syphilis Elimination (http://www.cdc.gov/stopsyphilis) Provides information about syphilis in the United States and around the world as well as about CDC efforts to eliminate syphilis from the United States.

Health Advice Company: Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.advicecenter.com/faq_menu.html) Includes answers to frequently asked questions about herpes and genital warts/HPV infection.

Hepatitis B Foundation (http://www2.hepb.org) Provides materials about risk factors, prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Herpes Resource Center (http://www.ashastd.org/hrc/index.html) Provides information and support for people with herpes.

National Vaginitis Association (http://www.vaginalinfections.com) Information on symptoms, causes, and treatments for vaginitis.

Safer Sex Information

The Body: Forum on Safe Sex and HIV Prevention (http://www.thebody.com/cgi/safeans.html) Provides answers to frequently asked questions about safe sex and an ask-the-expert feature that allows individuals to submit new questions.

Condomania Online: Getting Educated Safer Sex Guide (http://www.condomania.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/educate/manual/index.shtml?L+condomania+zv... ) A commercial site that includes useful advice on using condoms and safer sex.

Dr. Drew (http://drDrew.com) Provides answers to frequently asked questions about sexuality and relationships, including STDs and safer sex.

HIV InSite: Safer Sex Information (http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/prevention/safer_sex_info) Includes safer sex guidelines for a variety of audiences.

iwannaknow (http://www.iwannaknow.org) Provides teen-oriented answers to questions about sexual health and STD prevention.

Planned Parenthood: Sexual Health (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sti) Provides information about STDs and safer sex; Planned Parenthood also sponsors http://www.teenwire.org Teenwire, a teen-oriented site with information about sexuality and relationships.

Safer Sex Page (http://www.safersex.org/safer.sex) Provides information on a variety of topics related to safer sex and STDs prevention; includes audio of sample dialogues for talking about safer sex and condom use with partners. (Information is geared to people of all sexual orientations, and some is explicit.)

Trojan Condoms: Safer Sex (http://www.trojancondoms.com/quizzes/safer_sex) Sponsored by the makers of Trojan condoms, this site includes directions for condom use and sample dialogues for overcoming excuses for not using condoms.

Other Specific Diseases and Conditions Many of the general information sites listed above contain information on specific infectious diseases; see especially the following sites: See also the listings for Chapter 6 (contraception) and Chapter 9 (for food safety).

CDC/NCID Disease Information Menu (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases)

MedlinePlus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus)

NIAID Publications Menu (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/default.htm)

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Factsheets Menu (http://www.nfid.org/factsheets)

American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery: Sinus Information (http://www.entnet.org/sinus) Provides information about sinus pain and sinus infections, including on online quiz to help determine whether symptoms are due to a cold, an allergy, or sinusitis.

American Lung Association (http://www.lungusa.org) Provides information on a variety of infectious diseases that affect the lungs, including http://www.lungusa.org/diseases/c&fguide/lungcolds_flu.html the common cold, http://www.lungusa.org/diseases/luninfluenz.html influenza, http://www.lungusa.org/diseases/lungpneumoni.html pneumonia, and http://www.lungusa.org/diseases/lungtb.html tuberculosis. To test your knowledge on influenza, take the http://www.lungusa.org/bin/flu/fluquiz2001.pl Flu Quiz.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Home Page (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/cfs) Provides information about CFS, descriptions of current research into its causes, and links to support groups.

Common Cold (http://www.commoncold.org) Provides background information, common myths, prevention and treatment strategies, and other resources related to the common cold.

Hepatitis B Foundation (http://www2.hepb.org) Provides materials about risk factors, prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

HepNet (http://www.hepnet.com) Provides extensive information about hepatitis, including online quizzes and slide shows.

Hepatitis Education Project (http://www.scn.org/health/hepatitis) Includes links to sites with information about hepatitis and advice for setting up a local support groups.

Lyme Disease Foundation (http://www.lyme.org) Provides strategies for the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease and other tickborne infections.

Lyme Disease Network (http://www.lymenet.org) Includes information about prevention and treatment, including photographs of ticks and the rash often associated with Lyme disease.

NIH National Institute of Dental Research/Insights on Human Health: Herpes (http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/slavkin/inf_imm.htm) An overview of the different types of herpesviruses and their effects.