Conditions

Plain-English explainers you can read in two minutes and print in one.

179 sheets. Each rates treatments by the strength of the evidence and prints on one page. Also: exercise handouts, blood test results explained, side-by-side comparisons, deep dives and the Zebra Atlas of rare conditions.

• Achilles TendinopathyPain and stiffness in the tendon at the back of the heel.
• AcneBlocked, inflamed hair follicles causing blackheads and pimples.
• Addison’s DiseaseAdrenal glands make too little cortisol: tiredness, dizziness, darker skin.
• ADHDA brain difference affecting attention, restlessness and impulses.
• ADHD in AdultsLifelong attention and impulse differences, often diagnosed later in life.
• ADHD in ChildrenFocus, stillness and waiting are harder than for other kids the same age.
• Anal FissureA small, painful tear in the anus, usually from passing a hard stool.
• AnaphylaxisSevere allergic reaction: signs, first aid and adrenaline autoinjector steps.
• Ankle SprainStretched or torn ankle ligaments, usually from rolling it outwards.
• AnxietyWorry, fear or panic that’s hard to switch off and gets in the way.
• ArsenicSources, rice, seafood and testing pitfalls.
• AsthmaSwollen, twitchy airways causing wheeze, cough and breathlessness.
• Atrial FibrillationAn irregular heartbeat that raises stroke risk about fivefold.
• AutismA lifelong difference in how people communicate and sense the world.
• Autism in AdultsLate diagnosis, masking, burnout and support for autistic adults.
• Autism in ChildrenEarly signs, assessment and support that respects who your child is.
• Bell’s PalsySudden one-sided face weakness: what to do in the first 72 hours.
• Bladder Leaks (Incontinence)Leaking urine with coughs or sneezes, or sudden urges that won’t wait.
• Blocked EarsA full, muffled, popping ear when the tube behind it won’t open.
• Boils and Staph Skin InfectionsPainful, pus-filled lumps around hair follicles, usually from staph.
• BronchiolitisA chesty viral infection in babies, usually from RSV, that peaks in winter.
• Bunions (Hallux Valgus)A bony bump at the base of the big toe as the toe leans inwards.
• CadmiumSmoking, food, kidneys and bones.
• Cancer ScreeningBowel, breast, cervical and lung screening: who, when and how.
• Carpal Tunnel SyndromeA squeezed wrist nerve causing night-time tingling in the fingers.
• ChickenpoxAn itchy blistering rash from the varicella virus, now less common thanks to vaccines.
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)Silent kidney damage that lasts. Stages, eGFR and how to slow it.
• Coeliac DiseaseAn immune reaction to gluten that damages the small bowel lining.
• Cold SoresTingly, blistering sores on the lip from the herpes simplex virus.
• Common ColdA viral nose and throat infection that clears in about a week or so.
• Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)Red, gritty or sticky eyes. Most clear within 1–2 weeks.
• ConstipationHard, infrequent or hard-to-pass poo. Common, and usually very fixable.
• Contact DermatitisAn itchy rash where an irritant or allergen touched the skin.
• ContraceptionEvery method compared by typical and perfect use, plus emergency options.
• COPDLong-term lung damage, mostly from smoking, that makes breathing harder.
• CostochondritisSharp, tender chest wall pain where the ribs meet the breastbone.
• Cough and Acute BronchitisA chest cold that can linger 3 weeks. Antibiotics rarely help.
• CroupA barking cough and noisy breathing in young children, usually from a cold virus.
• CTEPH (Breathless After a Clot)Old clots scar the lung arteries and raise lung pressure; check if still breathless 3 months after a PE.
• D-MER (Sad Nipple Syndrome)A brief wave of dread or sadness just before milk lets down; how it differs from postnatal depression, and what helps.
• De Quervain’s TenosynovitisPain on the thumb side of the wrist, worse gripping or lifting.
• DepressionLow mood or lost interest most days for 2 weeks or more.
• DiverticulitisAn inflamed pouch in the bowel wall, with lower left tummy pain.
• Do I Need Antibiotics?When antibiotics help, when they don’t, and why it matters.
• Dry EyeGritty, sore or watery eyes from too few tears or tears that dry too fast.
• EarwaxA self-cleaning system. Only treat it if it blocks the ear.
• EczemaDry, itchy, inflamed skin that comes and goes in flares. Not contagious.
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and HypermobilityVery bendy, painful joints; hEDS, HSD and the rarer types.
• EndometriosisWomb-like tissue growing outside the womb, causing pelvic pain.
• Enlarged ProstateA non-cancerous enlarged prostate causing urinary symptoms.
• Eosinophilic Oesophagitis (EoE)Food sticking when you swallow, from allergic-type inflammation.
• Erectile DysfunctionTrouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex.
• Erythema NodosumTender red lumps on the shins, and the triggers to look for.
• Fatty Liver (MASLD)Fat build-up in the liver, usually linked to weight and blood sugar.
• Fever in ChildrenA temperature of 38°C or more, usually a sign the body is fighting a virus.
• Fibroids (Uterine Fibroids)Non-cancerous growths in the womb that can cause heavy periods and pressure.
• FibromyalgiaWidespread pain with fatigue, poor sleep and fibro fog.
• Flu, COVID-19 and ColdsTelling them apart, testing, who qualifies for antivirals, and vaccines.
• Folate and Folic AcidDeficiency, pregnancy dosing and neural tube defects.
• Foot and Big Toe OsteoarthritisA stiff, sore big toe (hallux rigidus) or aching midfoot from arthritis.
• Frozen ShoulderA painful, then stiff shoulder that slowly thaws over 1–3 years.
• GallstonesHard lumps in the gallbladder that can cause severe upper tummy pain.
• Ganglion CystA harmless jelly-filled lump, usually on the wrist or finger.
• Gastro (Gastroenteritis)A stomach bug with vomiting and diarrhoea. Fluids are the treatment.
• Gilbert’s SyndromeSlightly high bilirubin, occasional yellow eyes, and harmless.
• Glandular FeverA viral infection causing sore throat, fever, swollen glands and lasting tiredness.
• GoutUric acid crystals in a joint, often the big toe. Sudden, savage pain.
• H. pylori and Stomach UlcersA common stomach bug behind gastritis and most stomach ulcers.
• HaemochromatosisInherited iron overload, found on blood tests and treated by giving blood.
• HaemorrhoidsSwollen blood vessels around the anus causing bleeding or itch.
• Hand and Thumb OsteoarthritisKnobbly, stiff finger joints and a sore thumb base from arthritis.
• Hand, Foot and Mouth DiseaseA common childhood virus causing mouth ulcers and spots on the hands and feet.
• Having an Iron InfusionWhat to expect on the day, side effects and aftercare.
• Hay FeverAn allergy causing sneezing, a blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes.
• Head LiceTiny insects that live on the scalp and spread by head-to-head contact.
• Heart FailureWhen the heart can’t keep up. HFrEF vs HFpEF and the four pillars.
• Heart PalpitationsNoticing your heartbeat as racing, pounding, fluttering or skipping.
• Heavy Metal Testing and “Detox”What’s real, what isn’t, and when to test.
• Heavy PeriodsPeriods heavy enough to disrupt your life or drain your iron.
• HiccupsSudden spasms of the breathing muscle, ending in a sharp “hic”.
• Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)Painful lumps that keep coming back in the armpits, groin and skin folds.
• High Blood PressureUsually silent, but raises the risk of stroke and heart attack.
• High CholesterolToo much LDL in the blood. Silent, but raises heart attack and stroke risk.
• Hip OsteoarthritisGroin or thigh pain and stiffness from arthritis in the hip joint.
• HIV, PrEP and PEPTesting, PrEP, PEP within 72 hours, and U=U.
• Hives and SwellingItchy raised welts that move around, sometimes with deeper swelling.
• Impetigo (School Sores)A catchy skin infection with honey-coloured crusted sores.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s and Colitis)Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: gut inflammation in flares.
• Ingrown ToenailA nail edge digging into the skin, usually the big toe.
• Insect Bites and StingsMostly itchy and sore. Know the signs of a severe allergic reaction.
• Iron DeficiencyLow iron stores, which can cause tiredness, breathlessness and anaemia.
• Irritable Bowel SyndromeRecurring tummy pain and bloating with diarrhoea, constipation or both.
• Jet LagTiredness and poor sleep after crossing time zones. Your clock lags.
• KeratoconusThe cornea thins and bulges into a cone, blurring vision; strongly linked to eye rubbing.
• Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)Rough little bumps on the upper arms and thighs. Harmless and common.
• Kidney StonesCrystal stones in the kidney or ureter causing severe, wave-like pain.
• Knee OsteoarthritisKnee pain and stiffness from arthritis, which exercise actually helps.
• Lactose IntoleranceBloating, wind and diarrhoea after dairy, from too little lactase.
• Lead Exposure and Lead PoisoningOld paint, hobbies, blood levels and children.
• LeptospirosisA bacterial infection from animal urine in floodwater, mud and soil; flu-like at first, treatable with antibiotics.
• Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) TestA mostly genetic cholesterol particle: who should test once, units, what a high result means, and new drugs.
• Long COVIDSymptoms like fatigue and brain fog that last months after COVID.
• Low Libido in WomenLess interest in sex than you’d like, often from several causes at once.
• Lower Back PainVery common, usually not serious, and most improve within 6 weeks.
• Lowering Your Dementia RiskAbout 45% of dementia is linked to 14 risk factors you can change.
• Lupus (SLE)Autoimmune flares affecting joints, skin, kidneys and blood.
• Marine StingsJellyfish, stingray and other stings: mostly painful, rarely deadly.
• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)Mast cells release histamine too easily, causing flushing and hives.
• MeaslesFever, red eyes, then a rash from the face down. Phone before you visit.
• Medicine RecallsWhat a recall means, the recall classes, how to check your batch, and why to talk to your pharmacist before stopping.
• Mediterranean DietWhat to eat and what the heart and mood trials show.
• Menopause and PerimenopauseThe years around the last period: symptoms and treatments.
• MercuryFish in pregnancy, skin creams and fillings.
• Middle Ear Infection in ChildrenPainful infection behind the eardrum. Most settle in about 3 days.
• MigraineRepeated throbbing headaches, often with nausea and light sensitivity.
• Moles and Melanoma ChecksMost moles are harmless. Here’s how to spot the one that isn’t.
• Molluscum ContagiosumSmall, pearly, dimpled bumps from a common, harmless skin virus.
• Mould and Your HealthWho is at risk, symptoms, cleaning up safely, and which mould tests are worth it.
• Mouth UlcersSmall painful sores inside the mouth that usually heal within 2 weeks.
• Muscle CrampsSudden painful tightening of a muscle, often the calf at night.
• Myasthenia GravisMuscle weakness that worsens with use: droopy eyelids, double vision.
• Nappy RashSore, red skin in the nappy area, mostly from wee, poo and rubbing.
• Neck Osteoarthritis (Cervical Spondylosis)Age-related neck wear: stiffness and pain, rarely a pinched nerve.
• Neck PainUsually muscle and joint pain that settles within weeks.
• Niacin (Vitamin B3)Pellagra, flushing and high-dose risks.
• Obstructive Sleep ApnoeaThe throat closes repeatedly during sleep, causing snoring and pauses.
• OsteoarthritisThe most common arthritis. Pain and stiffness that movement helps.
• OsteoporosisThin, fragile bones that break too easily, often after a minor fall.
• Outer Hip PainPain on the outside of the hip, worse lying on that side or on stairs.
• Ovarian CystsFluid-filled sacs on the ovary. Most are harmless and go away.
• Pancreatic CancerSymptoms to know, who’s at risk, and when to see a GP.
• ParonychiaAn inflamed, often infected skin fold around a fingernail or toenail.
• Pattern Hair LossGradual thinning at the crown, temples or part line, often inherited.
• PCOS (now called PMOS)Irregular periods, extra hair or acne, and long-term metabolic risk.
• Period PainCramping lower tummy pain before or during a period. Very treatable.
• Perioral DermatitisSmall red bumps around the mouth, often from steroid creams.
• Pilonidal Sinus (Pilonidal Cyst)A painful lump or pit at the top of the buttock crease.
• Pityriasis RoseaA harmless rash that starts with one herald patch and clears in weeks.
• Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)Pain under the heel, worst with the first steps in the morning.
• PMS and PMDDMood and body symptoms before a period. PMDD is the severe form.
• Polymyalgia RheumaticaPainful stiffness of shoulders and hips in people over 50.
• PorphyriaRare haem conditions: acute tummy-pain attacks or sun-sensitive skin.
• POTSYour heart races when you stand, with dizziness, fatigue and brain fog.
• PrediabetesBlood sugar above normal but not diabetes. A warning you can act on.
• PsoriasisRaised red patches with silvery scale, from an immune skin speed-up.
• PTSDFlashbacks, nightmares and feeling on edge long after a trauma.
• Quitting SmokingQuitting at any age helps, and the benefits start within days.
• Raynaud’s PhenomenonFingers and toes that turn white, blue then red in the cold.
• Reflux and HeartburnStomach acid creeping up the gullet, burning behind the breastbone.
• Restless LegsAn urge to move the legs, worst in the evening and at night.
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)Deficiency signs, migraine and yellow urine.
• RosaceaFacial flushing, redness, visible small vessels and pimple-like bumps.
• Rotator Cuff InjuriesTendon pain and tears in the shoulder, and the exercises that help.
• Runner’s Knee (Kneecap Pain)Pain around or behind the kneecap with stairs, squats and sitting.
• SarcoidosisClumps of inflammation in the lungs, glands, skin and eyes.
• ScabiesBurrowing mites causing an intense itch, worst at night.
• SciaticaNerve pain shooting from the buttock down the leg. Usually settles.
• Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)Tight, thickened skin and Raynaud’s, sometimes affecting organs.
• Seborrhoeic Dermatitis and DandruffFlaky, itchy scalp and face. Dandruff is the mild form.
• Seborrhoeic KeratosesHarmless, warty “stuck-on” spots that come with age.
• Seeing a PsychologistMental health plans, 10 Medicare sessions and costs.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)Chlamydia to HIV: testing, treatment, telling partners and prevention.
• Shin SplintsAching along the inner shin bone with running or jumping.
• ShinglesThe chickenpox virus waking up as a painful, blistering stripe.
• Shoulder OsteoarthritisA deep ache and lost movement from arthritis in the shoulder joint.
• Shoulder PainRotator cuff pain and frozen shoulder, and the exercises that help.
• SinusitisSwollen, blocked sinuses after a cold. Usually viral and settles by itself.
• Skin Cancer: BCC and SCCThe two most common skin cancers. Caught early, usually cured.
• Skin CystsSmooth, harmless lumps under the skin that can flare up.
• Skin TagsSmall, soft, harmless flaps of skin in the folds.
• Smith-Magenis SyndromeA rare chromosome 17 condition with an upside-down body clock, sleep and behaviour challenges.
• Sore Throat and TonsillitisUsually a virus. Most get better within a week without antibiotics.
• StyesA painful red lump on the eyelid from a blocked, infected gland or lash root.
• Sunspots and Skin ChecksRough, scaly sun-damage patches, plus what to look for in a skin check.
• Tennis ElbowPain on the outside of the elbow, worse with gripping or lifting.
• Tension-Type HeadacheA dull, pressing band-like ache on both sides of the head.
• Thallium PoisoningHair loss, nerve pain and a dark Sydney history.
• Thiamine (Vitamin B1) DeficiencyAlcohol, beriberi and Wernicke’s.
• ThreadwormsTiny white worms that cause an itchy bottom, especially at night.
• Tinea and Fungal NailsFungal infection of feet, groin, body, scalp or nails.
• TinnitusRinging, buzzing or hissing with no outside source. Rarely serious.
• Tired All the TimeOngoing tiredness, most often from sleep, stress, mood or lifestyle, sometimes from illness.
• Trigger FingerA finger or thumb that catches, clicks or locks when bent.
• Trouble SleepingTrouble getting to sleep, staying asleep or waking too early.
• Type 2 DiabetesBlood sugar too high because insulin isn’t working well. Often silent for years.
• Underactive ThyroidA slow thyroid causing tiredness, feeling cold and weight gain.
• Urinary Tract InfectionA bladder infection causing burning, frequent or urgent urination.
• Vaginal ThrushA yeast overgrowth causing itch, soreness and thick white discharge.
• Varicose VeinsSwollen, twisted leg veins from leaky valves.
• Vertigo (BPPV)Brief spinning spells when you roll over, look up or bend down.
• Vitamin A: Too Little and Too MuchNight blindness, pregnancy and beta-carotene risks.
• Vitamin B12 DeficiencyLow B12 can cause tiredness, anaemia, tingling and memory problems.
• Vitamin B6: Too Little and Too MuchToxicity from supplements and the new 2027 rules.
• Vitamin C Deficiency and ScurvyBleeding gums, slow-healing wounds, and colds.
• Vitamin D DeficiencyLow vitamin D: common, easy to fix, and no cure-all when topped up.
• Vitamin EDeficiency, food sources and supplement risks.
• Vitamin K and Vitamin K Deficiency BleedingWhy every newborn gets it, the cancer myth, and greens on warfarin.
• WartsRough skin growths from a common virus (HPV). Most clear on their own.
• Weight and ObesityExtra body weight that’s affecting, or likely to affect, your health.
• Zinc DeficiencyLow zinc: uncommon, but vegetarians and gut conditions raise the risk.

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General information only. Fact sheets don’t replace advice from your own doctor. In an emergency, call 000 (Australia) or your local emergency number. From a mobile, 112 works in most countries.