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Which health service do I need Find a hospital
  • Conditions & treatments
    Conditions & treatments
    • Bladder, kidney and urinary system
    • Blood
    • Bones and joints
    • Brain and nerves
    • Cancer
    • Diabetes
    • Ear, nose and throat
    • Emergencies and first aid
    • Eyes
    • Food and water-borne diseases
    • Heart
    • Immune system
    • Infectious diseases
    • Liver
    • Lungs
    • Men's health
    • Older people's health
    • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
    • Skin
    • Stomach and bowel
    • Women's health
    • Home equipment
    • Medicines and prescriptions
    • Tests, procedures and surgeries
  • Immunisations
    Immunisations
    • National Immunisation Schedule
    • Vaccines given in Aotearoa
    • When to immunise
    • Book a vaccine
    • Catching up on missed immunisations
    • Preparing for a vaccination appointment
    • Immunising your whānau
    • Benefits of immunisation
    • Vaccine side effects, reactions and safety
    • How vaccines work
    • Get a copy of your immunisation record
  • Keeping well
    Keeping well
    • Activity and diet
    • Cancer screening
    • Emergencies and natural disasters
    • Healthy homes and environments
    • Teeth and gums
    • Transgender and gender diversity
    • Travel
    • Safe sex
    • Workplace wellbeing
  • Pregnancy & maternity
    Pregnancy & maternity
    • Pregnancy and immunisations
    • Fertility
    • Finding out you are pregnant
    • Having a healthy pregnancy
    • Screening
    • Lead maternity carers and midwives
    • Miscarriage
    • Labour and birth
    • Your health after birth
    • Postnatal depression
    • Breastfeeding
  • Mental wellbeing
    Mental wellbeing
    • Alcohol and drugs
    • Alcohol and drug services
    • Assault and abuse
    • Mental health conditions
    • Crisis assessment teams
    • Where to get help for mental health
    • Mental health medication
    • Mārama — feedback survey for mental health and addictions
    • Psychologists
  • Locations
    Locations
    • Auckland
    • Bay of Plenty
    • Canterbury
    • Hawke’s Bay
    • Manawatū-Whanganui
    • Nelson Marlborough
    • Northland
    • Otago and Southland
    • Rotorua and Taupō
    • South Canterbury
    • Tairāwhiti
    • Taranaki
    • Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti
    • West Coast
    • Waikato
    • Wairarapa
  • Services
    Services
    • Find the right healthcare for you and your whānau
    • Emergency departments (ED)
    • Public hospitals
    • General practices
    • Online and over-the-phone healthcare
    • Pharmacies
    • Dental care
    • Pregnancy, birth and children services
    • Publicly funded health and disability services
    • Sexual health clinics
    • National Public Health Service
    • Support services
    • Your rights using a health or disability service
    • Calendar of health events
My Health Record

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    1. Home
    2. Conditions and treatments
    3. Immune system

    Immune system

    Allergies

    When your body overreacts to a substance in your environment. Severe reactions are called anaphylaxis and are life threatening.

    Fever

    A fever is when your body temperature is above 38.0C. It is a normal part of your body's response to infection. Although it can be uncomfortable, most healthy adults can tolerate a fever well. A fever is also a sign you could be spread infection to others.

    HIV and AIDS

    HIV is a virus that damages the cells in your immune system and weakens its ability to fight everyday infections and diseases.

    Inflammatory arthritis

    When your body mistakenly uses its immune system to attack the area between your joints. Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis are forms of inflammatory arthritis.

    Type 1 diabetes

    You develop type 1 diabetes if your body is not creating enough insulin to keep blood glucose (sugar) levels in the normal range. High blood glucose can cause damage to your body over time.
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