Health Topics

Chicken pox gets its name from the Latin word “cicer”, meaning chick peas because the spots were thought to look like chick peas on the skin. Chicken pox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, one of the herpes viruses.

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder (the bag in which urine is stored after it leaves the kidneys).

Migraine is a type of severe headache, often one-sided, which may also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or increased sensitivity to light. Migraine headaches are one of the most common types of headache.

Hepatitis is an infectious disease caused by viruses. The whole body is affected by the viral infection which leads to systemic illness, and the liver is particularly susceptible to damage.

The runny nose, sore throat or bunged up feeling of a cold is caused by one of many viruses that infect the upper part of the breathing system (upper respiratory tract). Influenza - or flu - causes similar symptoms to a cold but tends to be a more severe illness.

Sinusitis is an infection or inflammation of the membranes that line the nasal passages and sinuses, the air-filled spaces at the front of the skull.

Constipation is when there is a change in the usual pattern of bowel movements, either bowel movement occurs less often than usual, or because it's difficult or painful to have a bowel movement.

Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a term used to describe skin conditions that are characterised by irritation or inflammation of the skin. Eczema is the commnonest itchy rash in childhood.

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by infection. In most cases, gastroenteritis clears up without the need for specific medical treatment.

Pharyngitis is the medical term used to describe an infection or inflammation of your throat.

The symptoms of asthma are caused when airways (the tubes which carry air to and from your lungs) narrow and become inflamed.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common problems of the digestive system.

Your skin is made up of several layers, the top one of which constantly sheds old cells and replaces them with new ones from underneath. If you have psoriasis, the rate at which your skin is replaced in the affected area increases.

Ear infections can affect any one, though children are particularly vulnerable to them. But there are different types, and the possible treatment options will depend on what type it is, and what might have caused it.

Piles, or haemorrhoids, are areas in the anal canal where the tissue has become swollen. They are very common at any age.