Cancer What is cancer? Cancer is a generic term for a group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumors and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts…
Burns What are burns? Burns are one of the most common household injuries, especially among children, elderly and women of low socioeconomic groups. The term “burn” means more than the burning sensation associated with this injury. Burns are characterized by severe skin damage that causes the affected skin cells to die. In 2018, the World…
Bug Bites What are bug bites? Most bites and stings trigger nothing more than minor discomfort, but some encounters can be deadly, especially if you have severe allergies to the animal’s venom. Insects, such as bees, ants, fleas, flies, mosquitoes, and wasps, and arachnids, such as spiders, ticks, and scorpions, may bite or sting if…
Breast Cancer What is cancer? Cancer occurs when changes called mutations take place in genes that regulate cell growth. The mutations let the cells divide and multiply in an uncontrolled way. Breast cancer is cancer that develops in breast cells. Typically, the cancer forms in either the lobules or the ducts of the breast. Breast…
Blindness What is Blindness? Blindness is the inability to see anything, including light. There is also partial blindness that may present with the following symptoms cloudy vision, an inability to see shapes, seeing only shadows, poor night vision and tunnel vision. According to the WHO, about 26.3 million people in Africa have a form of…
Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis) What is bilharzia? Bilharzia is an acute and chronic parasitic disease caused by a kind of parasitic worms known as “cercariae”. Usually, no symptoms appear when a person is first infected. However, this parasite can live in a person’s body for years and causes damage to their internal organs. There is intestinal and…
Asthma What is asthma? Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways to the lungs. It makes breathing difficult and can make some simple physical activities like talking or walking difficult or even impossible. The World Health organization (WHO) estimates that there are 300million people world-wide suffering from asthma with a country incidence rate of…
Appendicitis What is appendicitis? Appendicitis happens when your appendix becomes inflamed, likely due to a blockage. This can be acute when the pain starts suddenly or the pain can be chronic and lasts for many days. The appendix is a small finger-like pouch attached to the large intestine and not of much use to your…
Anaemia What is anaemia? Red blood cells are disc-shaped blood cells that carry oxygen to the organs and tissues of your body. Anemia happens when the number of healthy red blood cells in your body is too low. Every part of your body needs a sufficient supply of oxygen to function effectively. Many of the…
Alzhemier’s Disease What is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. People with Alzheimer’s also experience changes in behavior and personality. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia. Dementia is a broader term for conditions that…