Health Blog

Definition Gonorrhea is type of sexually transmitted infection (STI). Causes Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae . It is passed during vaginal, oral, or anal sexual intercourse. Risk Factors Factors that increase your chance of contracting gonorrhea include: Multiple sex partners Having sex without a condom History of having a sexually transmitted infection symptoms […]

What is malaria? Malaria is a serious, sometimes fatal, disease spread by mosquitoes and caused by a parasite. The illness presents with symptoms that include high fever and chills. There are three necessary aspects to the malaria life cycle: The Anopheles mosquito that carries the parasite and where the parasite starts its life cycle The […]

Introduction Most women experience period pain at some point in their lives. Period pain – or dysmenorrhoea – is usually felt as painful muscle cramps in the lower tummy, which can sometimes spread to the back and thighs. Sometimes the pain comes in intense spasms, while at other times the pain may be dull but more constant. […]

Introduction Stomach ulcers, also known as gastric ulcers, are open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach. Ulcers can also occur in part of the intestine just beyond the stomach – these are known as duodenal ulcers. Both stomach and duodenal ulcers are sometimes referred to as peptic ulcers. Here the term “stomach […]

Uses of antibiotics Antibiotics may be used to treat, or in some cases prevent, bacterial infections. However, your GP will only prescribe antibiotics to treat: conditions that are not especially serious but are unlikely to clear up without the use of antibiotics, such as moderately severe acne conditions that are not especially serious but could spread to […]

How an abortion is carried out In Nigeria, under the existing Abortion Act 1967, abortions can only be carried out in either public hospital or a licensed clinic. In most cases, an abortion will be carried out as a day procedure and you won’t need to stay overnight. Before the abortion When you go for your […]

Introduction: An abortion is the medical process of ending a pregnancy so it does not result in the birth of a baby. It is also sometimes known as a ‘termination’ or a ‘termination of pregnancy’. Depending on how many weeks you have been pregnant, the pregnancy is ended either by taking medication or by having a surgical […]

Introduction Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. It has been reported that over  200, 000 Nigerians die from food poisoning every year. However, most people who come down with food poisoning get better without the need for treatment. In most cases, food that causes food poisoning is contaminated by bacteria, such as […]

Introduction A stomach ache is a term often used to refer to cramps or a dull ache in the tummy (abdomen). It’s usually short-lived and is often not serious. Severe abdominal pain is a greater cause for concern. If it starts suddenly and unexpectedly, it should be regarded as a medical emergency, especially if the […]

Nigeria has the largest endemic population of adults and children with Sickle Cell Disease/Disorder (SCD) in the world. A quarter of all Nigerians have the Sickle Cell trait and approximately 150,000 children are born each year with the disorder (World Health Organization, 2006). Sadly, over 100,000 children die each year from SCD. 8% of child […]