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Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person faces difficulty falling or staying asleep or a lack of quality sleep for a period of time.If left untreated, long term sleep disturbances can decrease quality of life and lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Symptoms Sleepiness during the day General tiredness Irritability Problems with concentration or memory Common Causes Significant stress that can be caused by job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce, moving etc Illness, emotional or physical discomfort Environmental factors such as noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep Medications that may interfere with sleep Interferences […]

26Jun

Oral Pain

Introduction There are many degrees of oral pain, ranging from mild discomfort to agonising. Oral pain is usually caused by inflammation, triggered by trauma or an infection. Signs & Symptoms Oral pain is a symptom of an underlying cause. It is possible to experience the following together with the oral pain: Swelling of the gums Tooth cavities Loss of function When to Seek Medical Attention If your pain is due to a wisdom tooth that is fully embedded or partially erupted When your mouth sores do not heal even after 2 weeks If the pain is severe and causing you […]

26Jun

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Introduction Halitosis, or bad breath, is a rather common but distressing condition that can cause low self esteem and social anxiety. Sometimes, halitosis sufferers do not realise they have a problem until loved ones tell them. This is due to the individual’s nose getting used to the constant foul odour from the mouth. On the other hand, some individuals suffer from halitophobia, also known as delusion halitosis. This means that they have an exaggerated perception of how bad their breath smells, even though no problem exists. Due to individual perceptions and thresholds, it can be difficult to self-diagnose halithosis. Signs […]

25Jun

Scalp Ringworm

Introduction Scalp ringworm (Tinea Capitis) refers to an itchy, scaly rash of the scalp. There are many causes of an itchy scalp; however, when it is caused by a fungus, the rash is known as tinea capitis. The fungus causing tinea capitis prefers hair follicles. This is why tinea capitis favors the scalp area. The affected hairs can harbor the fungus for a year or more. As these affected hairs are shed, other family members’ scalps can become infected with the same fungus. Tinea capitis is most common between preschool-age and adolescence. Signs & Symptoms The appearance of scalp ringworm […]

25Jun

Scalp Psoriasis

Introduction Psoriasis is a condition in which skin cells multiply faster than a normal person’s, causing areas with thickened skin. Psoriasis can happen on any part of the body, and the term “scalp psoriasis” simply means that the psoriasis occurs on the scalp. The severity of the scalp psoriasis differs greatly from person to person. For some people, only a small area is affected, while for others, the affected parts can extend beyond the hairline onto the ears, forehead and neck. Some people might have psoriasis on their scalp only, while others could have psoriasis on other areas of the body. […]

25Jun

Head Lice

Introduction Head lice are tiny insects that live on your scalp and are usually found in your hair. They feed on blood from the scalp about five to six times a day, causing an allergic reaction and resulting in itching. The life cycle of the head louse consists of three stages – egg (or nit), nymph and adult. Having head lice can give intense discomfort, but rarely leads to severe complications, as head lice do not spread any diseases. Signs & Symptoms Signs and symptoms of head lice include: Feeling of something moving around on scalp Intense itching Small, red […]

25Jun

Hair Loss

Introduction Although hair loss is mainly an aesthetic problem, it can be extremely distressing, taking a toll on the sufferer’s self-esteem. There are many causes of hair loss, including: Androgenetic alopecia – more commonly known as male or female pattern hair loss. Alopecia areata – a patchy hair loss that might be due to an autoimmune disorder. Traction Alopecia – caused by tight hairstyles such as cornrows and hair braids. This form of hair loss will resolve itself once hair styling habits are changed, if the problem is addressed early enough. Telogen Effluvium – a type of hair loss caused […]

25Jun

Dandruff

Introduction For a normal person, skin cells form and rise to the surface in about 25-30 days. With dandruff however, the skin cells on the scalp go through this process about twice as fast, causing an accumulation of skin cells on the scalp. Itching can cause the patient to scratch violently, resulting in embarrassing flaking, swelling and breaking of the skin, compounding the problem if an infection sets in. This is more common at the top of the head, although for some people the entire head might be affected. Signs & Symptoms Flaking of the scalp, which is more apparent […]

25Jun

Gastric Pain and Heartburn

Introduction Gastritis refers to an inflammation of the stomach lining. This might occur suddenly or develop slowly over time. On the other hand, heartburn is a condition in which acidic contents of the stomach flow back into the food pipe. Normally, a barrier known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) prevents this from happening. For heartburn sufferers however, the tone of the LES is insufficient, causing reflux. Some patients experience gastritis or heartburn separately, while others might experience them together. Signs & Symptoms Gastritis: Nausea and vomiting Stomach bloating Burning, sharp pain in stomach Heartburn: Discomfort in chest and stomach […]

25Jun

Dyspepsia or Indigestion

Introduction Indigestion (or dyspepsia) refers to pain and discomfort in the centre of the upper abdomen, with a feeling that food is stuck and not passing normally through your food pipe. Sufferers might also experience heartburn together with indigestion. While it certainly is bothersome, indigestion is not a disease, but rather refers to a group of symptoms due to an underlying cause such as Gastritis, Celiac Disease or stomach ulcer. Signs & Symptoms Signs and symptoms of indigestion usually occur after eating. These include: Stomach pain which is not alleviated by passing gas or visiting the toilet Burning sensation Feeling […]

25Jun

Diarrhoea

Introduction Diarrhoea is defined as having three or more liquid stools a day. It is usually caused by an infection, especially when travelling overseas. Dehydration is a main concern for diarrhoea, especially in children. Most fatalities related to diarrhoea are due to the body losing too much and water and salts. Signs & Symptoms Stomach Cramping Flatulence Nausea and vomiting Urgency to pass stools When to Seek Medical Attention Do go for an evaluation if you: Have diarrhoea lasting for more than two days Suspect it is due to a medication you have just started Are running a fever Are […]

25Jun

Constipation

Introduction Constipation is an embarrassing, albeit common problem. There is some confusion as to what constitutes constipation. For some people, constipation might mean difficulty in passing stools, or not defecating every day. Medically, it is defined by the Rome III Diagnostic Criteria as having at least 2 of the following criteria in the last 12 weeks: Hard stools for more than a quarter of your bowel movements Feeling like your bowel movement is incomplete for more than a quarter of your bowel movements Straining for more than a quarter of your bowel movements Having fewer than 3 bowel movements per […]