All types of preventive medicine offer benefits and risks, and vaccines are no exception. But often, the risks related to getting a disease may be greater than the risks of the vaccine.

People with HIV have weakened immune systems, so they are more likely to catch harmful diseases like tuberculosis. However, new research suggests that a certain prevention therapy could significantly reduce that risk.

Dengue fever affects millions of people each year in the world's tropics and sub-tropics. The US isn't usually at much of a risk, but Florida has seen several cases so far this year.

Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the gut caused by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Viruses called rotaviruses are the most common culprits in the US, and there's a vaccine to protect against infection from these viruses.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause serious liver disease which may require a liver transplant. And according to the authors of a new study, many cases of HCV in the US are among hard-to-treat patients with serious health issues — something not always represented in studies of this virus.

In certain parts of the country, having mosquitos around is just a part of summer. Unfortunately, that means that West Nile virus might be a part of summer too.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently gave an estimate of how many Americans are infected with Lyme disease annually.

Excessive heat can be both physically and emotionally draining. Besides being a nuisance, heat waves can also cause certain conditions to flare up.

Although tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and curable disease, it still causes death and illness, especially in developing countries. And even developed countries are not out of the danger zone, particularly as immigration and travel help spread the disease. 

Most people get the flu vaccine for the obvious reason: to protect them from the flu. But there may be other benefits to the shot as well.