I've been wondering if eczema is considered an autoimmune disease. I couldn't find any concrete information concerning this issue. I know my eczema is mostly caused by my allergies (hay fever, dust, etc) but I'm wondering if it would cause an issue with my HIV test done at week 16 from a possible exposure which came back negative. Other than my eczema, I'm an extremely healthy individual in my early 20's. The last time I was sick with a flu (bad cough, fever) was in 2007. Thanks in advance for the help.
Hi there and thank-you for your question,
Unfortunately, there is no concrete evidence on the specific cause of eczema as it can be aggravated by a number of factors such as allergens, environmental factors and genetics in addition to it being considered as an autoimmune disease. If you require more information on eczema, The Eczema Society Of Canada website (http://eczemahelp.ca/what.html) is very helpful in disseminating and understanding the pathological nature of eczema.
When considering HIV testing, autoimmune diseases do not pose any issues when it comes to testing and do not affect the results of your HIV test. Seeing that you got tested at 16 weeks after the possible exposure and the results came back negative, it is safe to assume the test is conclusive as it was done after the recommended testing window period of 4-12 weeks.
Perhaps you can find a previous Helpline question and answer useful which explains how autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiency diseases affect HIV testing and results at http://www.aidsvancouver.org/what-we-do/helpline/online/autoimmune-diseases
Keep well,
Darrien
AIDS Vancouver Helpline Volunteer
e: helpline@aidsvancouver.org
p: (Mon-Fri 9-4pm ): (604) 696-4666
w: www.aidsvancouver.org/helpline
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