Infection with worms, parasites and protozoa occur in many parts of the world. Symptoms, depending on the type of infestation and the severity, will often be absent. However, diarrhoea, epigastric pain and weight loss may occur. The major symptom associated with threadworm infestations is anal pruritis. Children’s Intestinal Worms: An infestation of any of the…
Travel (Motion) sickness is a condition in which a disagreement exists between visually perceived movement and the vestibular system’s sense of movement. Depending on the cause, it can also be referred to as seasickness, car sickness, simulation sickness or airsickness. Dizziness, fatigue and nausea are the most common symptoms of motion sickness. Sopite syndrome, in…
Even though periods are a normal and natural part of a woman’s life, many women find that their periods are an intrusion or an interruption to their day-to-day life. It might be that your periods just make you feel a bit run down, or tired. You may have belly aches and pains, nothing too serious…
Dysmenorrhoea is the term used to describe painful periods. Normal menstruation that happens to be painful is known as primary dysmenorrhoea. Period pain caused by certain reproductive disorders, such as endometriosis or fibroids, is known as secondary dysmenorrhoea. In primary dysmenorrhoea, it is thought that the muscles of the uterus (womb) squeeze and contract harder…
Leukorrhea or (leucorrhoea British English) is a thick, whitish or yellowish vaginal discharge. There are many causes of leukorrhea, the usual one being estrogen imbalance. The amount of discharge may increase due to vaginal infection or STDs, and it may disappear and reappear from time to time. This discharge can keep occurring for years, in…
Generally, bleeding is of a minor nature and includes small cuts, grazes, etc. However, bleeding may be severe and life-threatening if a large vein or artery has been injured – e.g. the jugular vein in the neck. Some wounds are associated with other injuries beneath the skin – e.g. an organ injured by a stabbing;…
Thrush is a very common fungal infection, typically on the skin or mucous membranes caused by Candida albicans, but other types of yeasts can be involved. Causes Caused by an overgrowth of yeasts which live normally in the bowel and gastrointestinal system. Candida albicans may also be present in other parts of the body, commonly…
Stretch marks (striae gravidarum) are long, narrow streaks, stripes, or lines (white, pink to purple) that develop on the skin and occur in 90% of wome by the third trimester. They occur when the skin is suddenly stretched and are extremely common. Anyone can develop stretch marks, although they tend to affect more women than…
The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It is soft, to allow movement, but still tough enough to resist breaking or tearing. It varies in texture and thickness from one part of the body to the next. For instance, the skin on our lips and eyelids is very thin and delicate, while…
What cause scabies? Scabies is a skin infestation caused by a tiny mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. How is it transmitted? It is usually transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. This can be sexual, or other close contacts (such as sleeping in the same bed as a person infected or simply skin contact between children when playing). Scabies…