Symptoms

5 Signs you may be lactose intolerant

Lactose intolerance is due to not having enough of the enzyme lactase to digest the sugars, such as

7 Signs you may have sciatica

Here are 7 ways to tell you have sciatica - these signs indicate your back pain may be due to sciati

8 Surprising causes of erectile dysfunction

Occasional erectile dysfunction is not uncommon, but if it's persistent, erectile dysfunction ca

9 Signs your child may have OCD

Kids who are compelled to display repetitive behaviours may have OCD - here are 9 signs your child m

9 Signs your liver may be damaged

Liver disease doesn't usually cause any symptoms until the damage to the liver is fairly advanced. H

Amnesia means loss of memory. Transient global amnesia is a sudden temporary episode of memory loss,

Back pain

Most Australian adults will experience low back pain at some time in their lives. Most uncomplicated

Bad breath (halitosis)

Most bad breath (halitosis) originates in the mouth and is caused by the breakdown of food by b

Bleeding gums

Bleeding gums are something many people notice when brushing their teeth or flossing, however, healt

Bowel cancer causes and symptoms

In its early stages, bowel cancer often has no noticeable symptoms. Some factors increase the chance

Childhood rashes

Distinguish between the childhood rashes of rubella (German measles), measles, chickenpox and fifth

What is constipation? Find out about symptoms, causes, risk factors and diagnosis. Plus, when you sh

Cough: dry cough

A dry cough is one that is non-productive (no phlegm or mucus is produced) and irritating. Find out

Cough: productive or 'wet' cough

A productive or 'wet' cough brings up mucus or phlegm. Find out the causes and when to see t

Dehydration and hot weather

Dehydration is the loss of water and salts from the body. You are at particular risk of dehydration

Along with loss of memory and intellectual function, dementia can cause symptoms such as changes in

Diarrhoea: causes and symptoms

Diarrhoea is when your bowel movements become loose or watery. Find out the common causes, how to he

Dizziness can be used to describe a wide variety of sensations. Find out the difference between vert

Dry eye

Dry eye is a term used when the eye does not produce tears that lubricate the eye adequately. The ey

Ear problems

Common ear problems include otitis media, glue ear, ear wax and swimmer's ear.

Feet: checklist for foot health

Foot problems such as smelly feet, athlete's foot, plantar warts, corns and infected toenails ca

A fever is when the body temperature rises above normal. Find out about taking a temperature, how to

Gallstones: symptoms

The most common symptom of gallstones is recurrent attacks of pain in the upper abdomen or the back,

Gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms

Heartburn is the most noticeable of several symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Hair loss overview

Hair loss (alopecia) is common and can cause significant worry and anxiety. But there are

Headache: what makes a headache serious?

Although headaches are very common and rarely a sign of serious illness, certain symptoms should pro

Heartburn is a common form of indigestion caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux - reflux of stomach co

Heel pain is most commonly caused by plantar fasciitis, a chronic overuse injury of the thick band o

Hiatus hernia symptoms

Most hiatus hernias don't cause any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, the most common are heartb

Hiccups: why do we hiccup?

Sometimes hiccups persist for a long period of time and can be a sign of an underlying disease. If y

Indigestion

Indigestion is a symptom involving pain in the stomach and sometimes heartburn or reflux, which may

Irritable bowel syndrome: causes and symptoms

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, blo

Itching (medical term pruritus) can be one of the most distressing physical sensations we experience

One of the more serious causes of leg pain is intermittent claudication. Find out more about this co

Leg cramps

Leg cramps, which usually affect the calf muscles, can be excruciatingly painful. Find out about the

Low blood pressure

Low blood pressure (hypotension) can have many causes, including diet, medication or an underlying h

Lung cancer has a number of known and proven risk factors. Find out the causes and the symptoms of l

Neck pain: symptoms and causes

Knowing the symptoms of your neck pain and when to see a doctor can help in finding the cause and ge

What causes nosebleeds? How can I prevent them? What first aid measures can I use to stop a noseblee

Palpitations are sensations of excessively strong and/or irregular heartbeats. Find out more about t

Parkinson's disease is characterised by both motor and non-motor symptoms. There are common symptoms

Find out about the symptoms of peptic ulcers, and the type of abdominal pain that is suggestive of p

The symptoms of pneumonia usually depend on the cause of the pneumonia, but some symptoms are common

Reflux in babies

Reflux, when the contents of the stomach flow back up the oesophagus, is a common problem in babies

Sciatica: symptoms, causes and diagnosis

Sciatica is characterised by pain deep in the buttock often radiating down the back of the leg. One

Shin pain (shin splints)

Shin pain or shin splints encompasses a few specific conditions causing pain down the shin or along

Shoulder pain

Find out about the causes and treatment of shoulder pain, including frozen shoulder, rotator cuff sy

Sinusitis

Because the drainage holes from the sinuses are narrow, they block up easily. So any excess mucus pr

Although difficulty sleeping is not a disease, it can be a symptom of other health problems.

Conjunctivitis is the most common cause of sore eyes. Find out about conjunctivitis and symptoms tha

Sore throats: symptoms, causes, tests and when you should seek medical advice.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is ringing or other noise in the ear(s) or head. Find out about the causes and treatments f

The pain of toothache is caused by the exposure of tooth nerve endings - it can be a dull ache or a

Urinary incontinence is involuntary leakage of urine caused by poor bladder control. Find out about

Did you know Pap tests cannot detect cancer of the uterus? Find out how uterine cancer can be diagno

Vertigo

Vertigo is a term used to describe a false sensation of movement or spinning. Attacks of vertigo can

Voice changes can happen with a number of minor illnesses, but sometimes a change in the voice can b

Vulval problems: a self-help guide

The aim of this guide is to demystify vulval problems by offering an alternative to the current ways

Deciding whether to go to the doctor about symptoms is not always easy, especially in children, but