Patient Advice

Gastroenteritis, commonly known as the stomach flu or ‘gastro’, is a condition that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. While it…

Fever is a common symptom in children, and it can be a sign of a mild illness or a more serious condition. As a parent, it’s important to know how…

There’s nothing fun about getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). That’s why it’s important to understand your risk, and take precautions to ensure you don’t end up dealing with the…

Sepsis is the leading cause of death from infection around the world, according to the Australian Sepsis Network. This month marks World Sepsis Day, an awareness-raising campaign for the life-threatening…

Every nine minutes someone in Australia has a stroke. Experiencing a stroke can have a debilitating effect on a person’s life. In fact, 65% of people who have a stroke…

What would you do if you were with a friend or family member and their heart stopped beating? A heart attack, cardiac arrest or near drowning can occur suddenly, and…

The latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggest that only one-third of Australians are eating the recommended number of servings of fruits per day. Fruit should be…

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes which develops during pregnancy. Most of the time, women will no longer have the condition once the baby has been born;…

A diagnosis of hypertension indicates that you are suffering from high blood pressure. In Australia, hypertension is the most common condition which affects the circulatory system. This condition is also…

Acute pain is pain which is short-lived and goes away once the injury or the condition which caused it has healed. Chronic pain is when pain occurs on a regular…

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which is also sometimes called Myalgic Encephalitis (ME), is a complex condition which can cause extreme fatigue, issues with sleep, pain, and other symptoms. Patients who…

The skin is the largest organ of our bodies. Although it is soft enough to allow movement, it is also tough enough that it can resist breakage and tear. You…

The ear is made up of three parts – the outer ear, the canal, and the eardrum. The outer ear is the part which you can see, and the canal…

Australia currently has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world. In fact, it is the third most common type of newly diagnosed cancer in Australia and…

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the thin, clear tissue which lines the inner part of the eyelid and covers the white area of the eyeball. This condition is very common, but…

In young babies and children, vomiting can be a normal and even a predictable symptom of many illnesses. Usually being sick does not need to be a major cause for…

Uterine Prolapse is a condition which occurs when the uterus moves downwards from its usual position. The uterus and other organs of the pelvis are supported by layers of pelvic…

The influenza virus is a very contagious infection and affects the nose, throat, and the lungs. It can be easily spread through contact of fine droplets, especially from coughing and…

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful neurological disorder which affects the forearm and the hand. It is caused by excess pressure on the nerves which run along the wrist. The…

Many people find that when they travel from a developed country to an underdeveloped country, they end up suffering from travellers’ diarrhoea. Although the risk is entirely dependent on where…

Skin rashes can vary a lot in their appearances and the symptoms that may accompany them, which can make them tricky to diagnose. Most rashes are not life-threatening; however, some…

Diarrhoea is typically a symptom of a bowel infection which is characterised by loose and watery stools three or more times a day. The condition occurs when the lining of…

There are many long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) which are available for women and can last for weeks, months, and even years. Each of the LARCs requires little effort once they…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is a group of behavioural symptoms which make up a chronic disorder which can seriously impact the lives of the children who are affected by…

Morning sickness is a common symptom experienced by many women during early pregnancy. Although the name suggests that this problem only happens in the morning, it can occur at any…

Headaches – everyone has experienced one at some point in their lives. Up to 15% of Australians are taking pain relief medication for a headache at any given time (Betterhealth,…

It is estimated that one in five Australians currently suffer from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a chronic disorder in which the normal rhythmic movement and…

Osteoporosis is a condition which affects bone density. It occurs when bones begin to lose minerals and calcium quicker than the body can replace these essential nutrients. As a result,…

A fever is characterized by a body temperature of 38°C or higher. Usually harmless, a fever is an indicator that your body is fighting off an infection. Typically a mild…

Having a sore throat can involve a variety of sensations. Pain when talking or swallowing, the throat feeling swollen, dry, irritated, scratchy, or raw – these are some typical responses…

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition caused by inflammation and hypersensitivity of the airways. Asthma symptoms include tightness in the chest, wheezing, coughing, and feeling breathless. When asthma symptoms become…

Nosebleeds occur when one of the many blood vessels which line the nose bursts. They can be caused by numerous factors such as infections, injuries, allergic reactions, nose picking, or…

Febrile illnesses are illnesses such as viral or bacterial infections which can cause a fever. Getting a high temperature is a completely natural and normal reaction of the body towards…

We all suffer from pain during our lives – an occasional headache, sprains and strains from work and sport, body aches, sore throats when we pick up a cold, and…

Rashes refer to noticeable changes in the appearance, colour, or texture of the skin. At warmer times of the year, it is quite common to experience rashes that are caused…

A chesty cough is when your chest feels heavy, and you find that you are coughing up mucus or phlegm. Often patients find that a chesty cough appears after a…

Meningococcal disease is an infection which is caused by the meningococcus bacterium. There are three forms of the invasive disease; Meningitis, in which the infection affects the meninges – the…

Unfortunately, breast cancer is the most common cancer that is diagnosed in Australian women. It is estimated that one in eight women develop breast cancer by the time they reach…

Acne is a common skin condition which tends to appear during the teenage years. It is often triggered by hormone changes, which can cause the sebaceous glands in your skin…

Abnormal or prolonged uterine bleeding, also known as abnormal menstrual bleeding, is when bleeding does not follow a normal pattern as it would during the menstrual cycle. Typically, a woman…