Diseases & Conditions

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight infection and disease.

Learn about California's response to HIV/AIDS by visiting the California Depart of Public Health's (CDPH) Office of AIDS webpage.

Did you know Californians can now access Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) at some pharmacies without needing to visit a doctor? In 2019, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 159, which allows pharmacists to initiate and dispense PrEP and PEP to an HIV negative person without a prescription.

The National AIDS Hotline (NAH), a service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is an information resource for the population of the United States, concerning the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Services are available to English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and deaf populations at the following phone numbers:

• English-speaking: 800-342-2437
• Spanish-speaking: 800-344-7432
• TTY service for the deaf: 800-243-7889

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. Hepatitis A is very contagious. It is spread when someone unknowingly ingests the virus - even in microscopic amounts - through close personal contact with an infected person or through eating contaminated food or drink. Symptoms of hepatitis A can last up to 2 months and include fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, and jaundice. Most people with hepatitis A do not have long-lasting illness. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get vaccinated.

Learn more about Hepatitis A by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Hepatitis A webpage or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hepatitis A webpage.

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood from an infected person. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs. For some people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for more than half of people who become infected with the hepatitis C virus, it becomes a long-term, chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C can result in serious, even life-threatening health problems like cirrhosis and liver cancer. People with chronic hepatitis C can often have no symptoms and don't feel sick. When symptoms appear, they often are a sign of advanced liver disease. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The best way to prevent hepatitis C is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially injecting drugs. Getting tested for hepatitis C is important, because treatments can cure most people with hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks.

Learn more about Hepatitis C by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Hepatitis C webpage or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hepatitis C webpage.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to hospitalization or death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. The best way to prevent flu is by getting an annual flu vaccine.

Learn more about Influenza by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Influenza webpage or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Influenza webpage.

Lyme disease is caused by certain bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, and reducing tick habitat.

Learn more about Lyme disease by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Lyme Disease webpage or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Lyme Disease webpage.

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox.

Learn more about Monkeypox by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Monkeypox webpage or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Monkeypox webpage.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus. Norovirus illness is often called by other names, such as food poisoning or the stomach flu. It causes gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), which leads to diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain.

Learn more about Norovirus by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Norovirus webpage or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Norovirus webpage.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that can be spread by coughing. People with pertussis have severe coughing attacks that can last for months. Infants too young for vaccination are at greatest risk for life-threatening cases of pertussis.

Learn more about Pertussis by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Pertussis webpage or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pertussis webpage.

Learn more about sexually transmitted diseases, testing, and available resources by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Branch webpage.

Shigellosis is a disease caused by bacteria called Shigella. Most people with Shigella infection have diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually begin 1 to 2 days after infection and last 7 days. Most people recover without needing antibiotics. However, people with severe illness and those with underlying conditions that weaken the immune system should be given antibiotics. Antibiotics can shorten the duration of illness (by about 2 days) and might help reduce the spread of Shigella to others.

Learn more about Shigellosis, an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria which causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Shigellosis webpage.

Learn more about Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems if it is not treated by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Syphilis webpage.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings. People nearby may breathe in the bacteria and become infected. Once in the lungs, TB bacteria can being to grow and eventually spread through other parts of the body through the blood.

What are the symptoms of TB?

• A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
• Pain in the chest
• Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
• Weakness or fatigue
• Weight loss
• No appetite
• Chills
• Fever
• Sweating at night

Learn more about Tuberculosis by visiting the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Tuberculosis webpage or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuberculosis webpage.