Pain in children DEFINITION Physical pain is an unpleasant feeling that comes with actual or potential physical injury, damage or disease. Children are sometimes too young, too sick or too afraid to say how much pain they have. To determine how much pain a child is feeling requires special communication… Read Article
Pain management – drugs DEFINITION Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage. Pain relievers are called analgesics. DESCRIPTION TYPES OF ANALGESICS Analgesics are so-named due to their ability to alleviate pain. Caution – most analgesic… Read Article
Swimmer’s ear DEFINITION Otitis externa, also known as swimmer’s ear or tropical ear, is an inflammation of the external ear canal. CAUSE The inflammation may be caused by infection, allergy, or other causes. Otitis externa can be caused by water getting inside the ear canal, and it is often more… Read Article
Swine flu DEFINITION Swine flu, also known as influenza A(H1N1), is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by type A influenza viruses that originated in pigs but is now being spread from human to human. DESCRIPTION People do not normally get Swine flu, though the virus does sometimes cross the… Read Article
Tendonitis DEFINITION Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon (the cords of tough tissue that connect muscles to bones). CAUSE Tendonitis is most commonly caused by injury or overuse during work or play. Less commonly it may be caused by an infection and it may be associated with diseases such as… Read Article
Tinea Cruris DEFINITION Tinea is a group of fungal infections caused by fungus of different varieties. Particular varieties of fungus have a preference for specific areas of the body. Tinea cruris is usually found in the crotch, or warm, moist areas of the body. DESCRIPTION Commonly known as jock itch… Read Article
Tinea Pedis (athletes foot) DEFINITION Tinea pedis, otherwise known as Athlete’s foot, is a fungus infection of the foot. DESCRIPTION The term Tinea describes a group of fungal infections caused by fungi of different varieties. Particular varieties of fungi have a preference for specific areas of the body. In Tinea… Read Article
Tinnitus DEFINITION Tinnitus is defined as a sound perceived by the ear without the presence of related sound waves. The sound may be a crackling, buzzing, ringing or similar sounds. Tinnitus is very common in adults and is usually not serious. DESCRIPTION Tinnitus can be divided into two categories –… Read Article
Urinary incontinence DEFINITION Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine. DESCRIPTION Urinary incontinence causes a person to pass urine unintentionally. This can range from a small dribble now and then, to large floods of urine. Urinary incontinence is common. It is more common in women and older people. There… Read Article
Urinary tract infection (UTI) DEFINITION Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the name given to an infection of any part of the urinary system. DESCRIPTION The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, the ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder, and the… Read Article