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Common Ailments

INSOMNIA

Staff Writer I

INSOMNIAWhat is it?Insomnia is the inability to obtain adequate sleep over a period of time.Symptoms: One or more of these symptoms may be present.Difficulty in getting sleep, Frequent waking during the night, waking very early, restless sleep.Causes: Anxiety, stress or depression, environmental disturbances. Irregular hours can trigger sleep problems, for example shift work or feeding a baby at night.Treatment in the home: Short-term insomnia usually resolves itself once the cause for the stress has been identified and dispelled.Do’s for poor sleeper: Do try and resolve the problems that keep you awake,

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SCARLET FEVER

katswink S

SCARLET FEVERWhat is it?Scarlet fever is a highly contagious infection, in which streptococcus bacteria enter the body via tonsils. It is a serious disease with possible serious complications.Symptoms: The initial symptoms mimic those of tonsillitis-sore throat, headache and fever. A bright red, itchy rash that feels like sand paper, the rash starts on the face, leaving a clear area around the mouth. It gradually spreads to the rest of the body. The tongue takes on a bright red strawberry-like appearance. After a week the rash fades and both the skin and

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BOILS

Staff Writer B

BOILS What is it?A boil is an abscess or pocket of infection around the base of a hair follicle. Bacteria accumulate to form thick yellow or white pus within the inflamed area. A Carbuncle is a collection of boils. Symptoms: Starts as a red tender lump, which may throb. Gradually becomes larger and more painful. As pus collects, it develops a white or yellow head. The pus may burst or slowly disappear on its own. Causes: Infection by bacteria. Treatment in the home: Most boils disappear on their own within a week. Do

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DIARRHOEA

Staff Writer D

DIARRHOEA What is it?Diarrhoea occurs when very loose and frequent stools are passed. Symptoms: Passing of runny, watery faeces abnormally frequently. Cramp-like abdominal pain which comes and goes in waves. Sometimes associated with vomiting.Causes: Food poisoning, viral infection, antibiotics, stress, nervousness or excitement. In children. Food allergy may also be a cause of diarrhoea.Treatment in the home Adults: Increase fluid intake. Drink plenty of flat coke, ginger ale or diluted apple juice. Do not eat solid foods for 24 hours. When you start eating again, avoid fatty foods, coffee and milk-these can

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SHINGLES

katswink S

SHINGLESWhat is it?Shingles is a viral infection of the nerves that supply certain areas of the skin. Usually affects people over 50 years of age.Symptoms: Usually affects area of skin supplied by the affected nerve on one side of the body or face. Severe burning pain in the affected area often precedes the rash. After about one to four days a painful, itchy rash of small crusting blisters appears. Over the next few days the blisters dry out, scab over and drop off. There may be small scars which fade away over

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BREAST ABSCESS

Staff Writer B

BREAST ABSCESS What is it?A Breast abscess occurs when infection enters the breast often through a cracked nipple, which is usually due to breast-feeding. Symptoms: A red tender swelling or lump in the breast. The glands under the arm next to the affected breast may also be tender. Fever and Pain can be severe. Possible complications: if not treated, a large amount of pus may collect. Treatment in the home: Make sure the breast is well supported. Take painkillers in recommended doses. Massaging the breast during breast-feeding can help to expel all

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EARACHE

Staff Writer E

EARACHE What is it?Earache is pain in one or both ears that may be either dull and constant, throbbing or sharp. Earache may be due to infection of the outer ear canal or the middle ear (acute middle ear infection and glue ear}INFECTION OF THE OUTER EAR CANAL (otitis externa)Symptoms: The ear canal is itchy, mild to severe pain, a feeling of fullness in the ear, sometimes a clear or yellowy discharge and temporary deafness. Causes: Swimming, Scratching the inside of the ear, a foreign body in the ear, bacteria, allergic reaction

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JAUNDICE

Staff Writer J

JAUNDICEWhat is it?Jaundice is not a disease as such, but a sign of a disorder. When jaundice is present the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow.Symptoms: Nausea and vomiting, dark urine and light coloured stools, the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow and generalized itching.Causes: Build-up of bilirubin in the blood.(Bilirubin is a waste product that forms when red blood cells are broken down. Normally it is removed from the bloodstream by the liver, collected in the gallbladders as bile and excreted in the faeces). Jaundice

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SINUSITIS

katswink S

SINUSITISWhat is it?Sinusitis is an inflammation of the membrane lining of the sinuses i.e. the air-filled cavities in the bones surrounding the nose and eyes.Symptoms: Nasal discharge and congestion, Headache over one or both eyes if the frontal sinuses are affected, pain in one or both cheeks if the sinuses in the cheek bones are affected. Pain is worse when leaning forward.Causes: Bacterial, viral or rarely fungal infection, Often follows a cold, Allergic rhinitis, dental infection and exposure to temperature extremes.Possible complications: Pain, nasal blockage, secondary respiratory tract infections, rarely meningitis

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BRONCHITIS

Staff Writer B

BRONCHITIS What is it?Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous lining of the main air passage of the lungs. There are two main types- acute and chronic bronchitis.Acute Bronchitis is a sudden onset of chest symptoms in normally healthy person. Chronic bronchitis is usually associated with heavy smoking. ACUTE BRONCHITIS Symptoms: A productive cough with grey, watery phlegm, Breathlessness, wheezing, pain in the upper chest, made worse by coughing. Fever.Causes: Untreated respiratory infections such as a head cold or sinusitis which spread to the bronchial tubes.Possible complications: BronchopneumoniaTreatment in the home: Acute

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