Skin Bleaching What is skin bleaching? Skin bleaching refers to the use of products to lighten dark areas of the skin or achieve an overall lighter complexion. These products include bleaching creams, soaps, and pills, as well as professional treatments like chemical peels and laser therapy. Skin bleaching reduces the concentration or production of melanin…
Sickle Cell Anaemia What is sickle cell anaemia? Sickle cell anemia, is a genetic disease of the red blood cells (RBCs). Normally, RBCs are shaped like discs, which gives them the flexibility to travel through even the smallest blood vessels. However, with this disease, the RBCs have an abnormal crescent shape resembling a sickle or…
Seizure What is a seizure? A seizure is a sudden change in movement or awareness due to a change in the electrical function of the brain. Sudden bursts of electrical energy may affect movement, sensation and consciousness. Seizures are changes in the brain’s electrical activity. These changes can cause dramatic, noticeable symptoms, subtle or mild…
Rheumatism What is rheumatism? The term Rheumatism is not a disease itself but a popular term for any disorder that causes pain and stiffness in muscles and joints. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) however is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain, inflammation, and damage throughout your body. The joint damage that RA causes usually happens…
Rabies What is rabies? An acute viral infection of the nervous system, once known as hydrophobia, that primarily affects dogs but can be transmitted to humans by a bite or a lick over broken skin. The virus travels to the brain once symptoms develop, rabies is usually fatal. Domestic dogs, cats, and rabbits — and…
Onchocerciasis What is onchocerciasis? Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a disease that affects the skin and eyes. It’s caused by the worm Onchocerca volvulus. Onchocerca volvulus is a parasite. It is spread to humans and livestock through the bite of a type of blackfly from the genus Simulium. This type of blackfly is found near rivers…
Nosebleed What is nosebleed? Nosebleeds are common but rarely indicate a serious medical condition. Frequent nosebleeds could mean a more serious issue. There are two kinds of bleeding from the nose. An anterior nosebleed occurs when the blood vessels in the front of the nose break and bleed. A posterior nosebleed occurs in the back or the deepest part of the…
Mumps What is mumps? Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus that passes from one person to another through saliva, nasal secretions, and close personal contact. The condition primarily affects the salivary glands, also called the parotid glands. These glands are responsible for producing saliva. There are three sets of salivary glands on each side…
Meningitis What is meningitis? Meningitis is an inflammation of the fluid and three membranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and spinal cord. The most common causes of meningitis are viral and bacterial infections. Other causes may include: cancer, fungi and some drug-induced reactions. Some viral and bacterial meningitis are contagious. They can be transmitted by coughing,…
Lice What are lice? Louse (plural lice) is a parasite that attaches itself to human hair and feeds on human blood. The most prevalent kind of lice is head lice. The other kinds of lice are: Body lice and Pubic lice. Adult lice are about the same size of a sesame and can be very…