This is the time when teeth break through the surface of the gums in an infant. What to look for crying more than usual. dribbling increases chewing on fingers and rubbing the mouth. swollen and red gums. loose bowel movements – but should not be diarrhoea pulling on ears refusal

What to look for painful tenderness and/or stiffness at a joint. in some cases, numbness or tingling. occasionally, mild swelling at the joint. Tendonitis is an inflammation in or around tendons, bands of strong fibrous tissue that holds muscle to bone. Tendons are strong and can usually take whatever we

This is a condition caused by bacteria usually found in the soil. What to look for If you have a cut or wound and any of these things occur – call your doctor stiffness of the neck, jaw – lock jaw, and other muscles uncontrollable spasms of the jaw and

What to look for… As with most cancers, in the beginning, throat cancer does not cause any symptoms. The early warning signs are similar to the symptoms of a chest cold. Symptoms caused by a tumour in the upper or lower throat may include: nagging cough. hoarseness. persistent sore throat.

These are involuntary contractions of a muscle or muscles. What to look for a brief, flicking sensation confined to a small part of the body, such as the eyelid; usually indicative of a harmless involuntary muscle contraction. a repetitive, uncontrollable, purposeless contraction of an individual muscle or group of muscles,

Tinnitus a sensation of ringing in the ears or the head. What to look for a noise in the ears, such as ringing. It may come and go or be continuous. hearing loss occasionally. With tinnitus, the noise heard can be so soft that the person can hear it only

Infection of the tonsils caused by bacteria or a virus. What to look for fever. a very sore throat with red, swollen tonsils with white discharge or spots on the tonsils. swollen and tender lymph nodes in the neck under the jaw. headache. severe pain at the roof of the mouth, and

What to look for soreness in teeth, gums, or jaw. Tooth decay cannot be cured but it can be controlled by looking after your teeth properly and regularly visiting your dentist. Other causes of dental pain include impacted teeth and gum disease. CAUSES The most common cause of toothache is

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection affecting any organ through the lymph nodes and bloodstream. What to look for a mild cough. fatigue and loss of weight. a bloody cough. fever and night sweats. pain in the chest, back, or kidneys. Tuberculosis is usually found in the lungs. The bacteria present

These are tiny mites living on the skin, which feed off dead skin cells. What to look for When the female mite start to breed, the symptoms will be as follows: intensely itchy rash located between the fingers or around the wrists, elbows, navel, nipples, lower abdomen, and genitals. scabs

Scarlet Fever is an infectious bacterial disease. What to look for Scarlet fever occurs most frequently in children. Its symptoms include: bright red or scarlet rash, usually beginning on the neck or chest. high fever. sore throat. tongue coated with red spots. infected tonsils vomiting. Scarlet fever is a childhood

This is a mental illness characterised by severe irrationality in thought and behaviour. What to look for A diagnosis of schizophrenia is considered when a person experiences at least two of the following symptoms: delusions. hallucinations. disorganised speech. irrational behaviour, rigidity, or floppiness of limbs. negative symptoms, such as inaction,

This condition occurs as a result of a slipped disc or other reasons What to look for pain radiating through your buttock, down the back of your thigh and leg, often to your foot. Activity may make it worse. The disc may bulge because of normal working activity or lifting,

Scoliosis is an excessive backwards or sideways curvature of the spine. What to look for the entire body seems to tilt to one side. the shoulders, hips and legs appear uneven. from the front the ribs appear more prominent. Scoliosis is a progressive sideways curvature of the spine. People with

What to look for Shin splints are characterised by pain occasionally swelling anywhere in the lower leg. Usually any pain in the lower leg is referred to as shin splints. It is to do with the muscles that enable the foot to move. Injuries that result in damage to the

Shingles is a painful condition caused by the herpes zoster virus, in which a line-like rash develops around the body. What to look for slight fever, chills, upset stomach. pain and tenderness usually on one side of your face or body. tingling, itching, or prickling skin followed by an inflamed red

This condition results from abnormalities in the blood structure of certain individuals. What to look for joint pain, pain in the abdomen, or along the arms and legs. fatigue, jaundice, and rapid heartbeat. recurring infections. delayed growth and development. a painful persistent erection This disease is inherited and is quite

Sinusitis is an infection or inflammation of the sinuses. What to look for pain and pressure in the face and behind the eyes. blocked nose. post nasal drip. mucus is smelly and yellow or discoloured. toothache. The sinuses are the air-filled pockets in the bones of the face. The four

The general warning signs of skin cancer include: any changes in size, colour, shape, or texture of any skin growth. an open or inflamed skin wound that won’t heal. Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, may appear as: a change in an existing mole. a small, dark, multicoloured

This is your body’s way of eliminating any irritants or toxins from the nasal passages. See also Colds and Flu entry as sneezing can itself be a symptom. People sneeze when they have a cold, to help clear the nose. They also sneeze if they are allergic to eliminate allergens from the nasal passages.

Sprains and strains are common injuries of the ligaments and muscles. What to look for Sprains, which affect joints, and strains which affect muscles, usually occur after an accident. For a sprain: pain in the joint. swelling of a joint. difficulty moving a joint. For a strain: sharp pain at

As with most cancers, stomach cancer usually does not produces any early symptoms. However, you may suffer from mild indigestion or loss of weight and appetite. Eventually the symptoms will be more noticeable. Warning signs of stomach cancer may include: indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain, or discomfort aggravated by eating. loss of

A sty is an acute inflammation of a gland at the base of eye. What to look for a red swelling near the edge of the eyelid. A sty is a pimple on the eyelid. It usually means the gland on the eyelid is infected. Sties are very painful but

Swimmers ear, also known as otitis externa is Inflammation of the canal between the Eardrum and the external opening of the Ear.  What to look for itching inside the ear. watery discharge from the ear. severe pain and tenderness in the ear, especially when moving your head or when gently